Falling out of love with tubes


I’ve owned an EICO ST-70 for eight years.  It’s modified and upgraded to the max, but with budget tubes. 

I just got got a Conrad Johnson SA-250 for a steal.  I plugged it in and it has blown my mind.  I feel like I’m hearing my music for the first time! So much detail I never noticed before!

I’m selling the EICO and will use the money for a preamp.   The SA-250 amp sounds kind of sterile/clinical to me.  Very unforgiving of a mediocre recording.

***Will using a preamp instead of going direct from my computer or tape sweeten the sound, even if it’s the solid state CJ Sc26 preamp?

***Will I lose the detail I hear if I get an older CJ tube pre in my price range? (Pv-10al) 

I’m listening to Silverline Prelude tower speakers, anticables level 2 speaker wires, anticables level 1 interconnects, and Denon dvd-2200 for CD, parasound zphono USB for my Supex SDX-1000  mc cartridge.  (Haven’t tried anything but phone, computer and cassette since I don’t have a preamp) 

Thanks in advance for your input. 
audibleaudio

Showing 1 response by audioman58

There are lots of preamp s I have Custom built preamps far better then commercial  where 70% of your hard earned money goes into the unit s parts . Did you know less then 25% on average hoes
Into any commercial product the rest ovrrhead,and 40-50% 
Dealer markup. I owned a store  and know about nodding,
And quality.  Used you can find good equipment 
But first you want very good quality coupling capacitors installed 
Very important  under 10 years old , any older capacitors of thst era start drying out on lesser brands,  if remote control most use alps volume which you loose a lot of inner detail .look for resistor based , or processor . There are a ton of variables. Being in audio since the mid 70s ,I have a college education .