Not really sure how much Ron Welborne was really involved in the circuit and kit designs of their products. I think Alan Kimmel was really the talent of Welborne Labs and Ron was just the business man running the show. Bought a lot of parts from them when it was a good company. I’m not surprised it sounds nice. Alan Kimmel later went on to work with Dan Wright... ModWright. I’d suggest sale it first and make mention of Alan as his name is where the value is. I think their amps were more popular and probably bring better money so it’s anyone’s guess what you’ll get out of it. I don’t think this this is the best site to sell it as probably few here that even know the name. I’d throw it on the Asylum if it were me as there’s a kit more hobbyists there. I’d be surprised if it brings anywhere near $1,000 and my guess more like $500 if it’s in great shape. I’d post on Asylum to on what members there think as someone there might be more helpful. Since Kimmel has designed for ModWright, I’d look at an earlier SWL 9.0 SE which is a wonderful preamp and going to be $900 - $1,200, which Kimmel had his hand in the design of this fine preamp. Be surprised if the Welborne can keep up with the ModWright.
How good is this Welborne preamp? What is comparable?
https://img.canuckaudiomart.com/forum/download/file.php?id=93086&t=1&sid=eea909ea7fae9a9cec31d2ba0b1db3ba
I have always only had solid-state equipment, including some pretty decent stuff.
Someone has given a Welborne Labs preamp (which was bought as a kit for about $1000 in the 1990’s), and while I absolutely love the sound, the ergonomics and connectivity and form factor of it are not what I want, long-term.
I know nothing about tube equipment, so i don’t know how to compare this.
I am wondering what sort of conventional tube preamps would equal this in sound quality and characteristic.
The preamp has a 5AR4 rectifier tube, a 6SL7 and a pair of VT-76.
What I love is that it gives a huge soundstage with excellent imaging, and excellent micro-detail: the instruments are more fully-fleshed out than I am used to.
The problems: the volume control is stepped, with too big a jump between settings, the connections are all on the top plate, which makes it look super-messy, and I would preferably like a remote control.
This was a kit and was built with what I understand are first-rate parts (the buzzwords my friend referenced were "black gates" and "paper and oil").
Do all good tube preamps have the sound characteristics I described?
What sort of price would I be spending on a used preamp to equal this? What should I look for used?
I have always only had solid-state equipment, including some pretty decent stuff.
Someone has given a Welborne Labs preamp (which was bought as a kit for about $1000 in the 1990’s), and while I absolutely love the sound, the ergonomics and connectivity and form factor of it are not what I want, long-term.
I know nothing about tube equipment, so i don’t know how to compare this.
I am wondering what sort of conventional tube preamps would equal this in sound quality and characteristic.
The preamp has a 5AR4 rectifier tube, a 6SL7 and a pair of VT-76.
What I love is that it gives a huge soundstage with excellent imaging, and excellent micro-detail: the instruments are more fully-fleshed out than I am used to.
The problems: the volume control is stepped, with too big a jump between settings, the connections are all on the top plate, which makes it look super-messy, and I would preferably like a remote control.
This was a kit and was built with what I understand are first-rate parts (the buzzwords my friend referenced were "black gates" and "paper and oil").
Do all good tube preamps have the sound characteristics I described?
What sort of price would I be spending on a used preamp to equal this? What should I look for used?
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