2. amps-preamps
  3. 1415789879

K&K Pre amplifier

Kevin at K&K sells a preamp kit under the name Raleigh. I believe that Raleigh is another small manufacturer, whom Kevin works with. I have used his phono kit for some 7 or 8 years now and am more than happy with it, a great unit.

I have been using an ARC reference 75 for over a year now, with a very good passive pre. It is a self build copy of the Music First Audio baby reference, with the same transformers. When I bought the ARC, I briefly compared this unit with the ARC reference 3 pre. It was'nt a proper comparison, but I think I preferred my unit. It does lack a bit in the macro dynamics department though and I am wondering about trying a tubed pre.

Has anyone used the K&K unit, there are'nt any reviews of it I can find. Other suggestions for a unit under $5000, including second hand, would be welcome. Another thought was the Audio Horizons pre, frequently commented on, in this forum.
Thanks David
david12

Showing 2 responses by shakeydeal

shakeydeal
979 posts
 
I too am a K&K phono stage owner and fan of Kevin's work.
However, I think you might be disappointed with most any active preamp after living with a TVC. I have tried many, including ARC, Audible Illusions, Art Audio, CJ, deHavilland, Lamm, etc. None of them could hold a candle to either my previous S&B based TVC (that Kevin himself constructed) or my current autoformer pre.

Unless you really see the need for gain in your system, I would stay where you are.

Shakey
shakeydeal
979 posts
 
So you don't consider the ARC Reference 3 a "really good tube pre"?

The CJ Premier 17LS, the Lamm LL2, and the Art Audio VPS are what I consider good tube preamps. Oh, and I also had the Cary SLP-98. None of them were as good as a transformer/autoformer line stage. The CJ might have come the closest, but still no cigar.

Shakey
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