Lamm pre amp

In my quest to buy my retirement preamp 4 years ago, settling on the Lamm LL2.1 Deluxe, I went through about 7 preamps and the only one that in my mind that rivaled the Lamm was the First Sound Presence which I believe can be had with a remote. In my system both these preamps are the cream of the crop in that price range. Enjoy the music

Nothing will sound as good as the LAMM!!

Thanks tooblue! I am also looking at my end game preamp. I value tonal richness as most prepamps i have tried is not giving me the sound. I currently own cj ET3SE and getting that more than my previous LTA MZ2. I am thinking of either the Bottlehead 300b tube pre, K&K Mir Allnic L1500,  Prima Luna Evo 300 or the current Don Sachs 6SN7 preamp. You can tell i want to spend less to get great sound haha.  But if I have to pay 6 to 8k for the best sound might be able to do it.

That Allnic would be an interesting one to check out, never tried it but have settled on the Allnic for my phono stage, went through the same process choosing a phonstage as I did for the preamp and have to say nothing came close, the Allnic ran away with it and still does. Enjoy the music

Ok thanks tooblue!

@tvad , thanks for that info, had forgot if the 1st Sound had a remote or not as I wouldn’t have used it any way.

Also without a remote, and I've never heard a Lamm, but the CAT remains one of my favorite preamps of all time.

Thanks for all the input! Im not sure if I should bite the bullet and go for the Lamm. Its unanimous that everyone says this is a tonally rich sounding pre. Haha

When I look inside the Lamm preamp I can't figure how they get that tonal richness with those parts. Probably the design I guess.

Kw6, I also had the Microzotl2 and the sound varied widely based on tubes used. I had Tungsol Round Plates and Brimar 6060’s in it (I know overkill) and it was too rich sounding! Good luck with whatever you end up with! 

@erik_squires , brings up a great contender, heard one in a friend of a friend's system and loved it, just could not find one in the used market to live with during my culling process but was on my radar. Please do let us know what you buy and if you decide on the Lamm, get with me as I went thru Lamm directly since there was no dealer in Houston and he referred me to a few dealers to buy from and have it ship directly from him. You would not believe the price they quoted and what I paid. Enjoy the music

As a side note, I seem to always be drawn to the piece of gear with tube rectification. Enjoy the music

Baranyi I was using nos 12bh7 and Shuguang Black glass 6SN7. Great bass fast but not sound I am after with my Pass. I did pair with a Prima Luna tube amp with different speakers and sound was better but in my current set up not happy. Actually I was distraught!😀

System matching I guess.

Thanks ebm! If not the best definitely top tier. Hall of famer of sorts!😁

Doshi Alaap is one to consider also.               Used price within your budget.

Although no remote, sorry.

Ok thanks isochronism!

Tooblue can you message me the price as I have no dealer as well? Thanks!

Ok thanks baranyi!

As a side note, I seem to always be drawn to the piece of gear with tube rectification. 

So so so so so so, TRUE.

kw6, just sent you what you requested, if you need all the info I included my phone number to text me for a picture of the receipt for your inquiry. Good luck with all.

I received my the latest from Don Sachs a couple weeks ago and I have just boxed up my AR-5SE and PSA-BHK for sale.  Just can't say enough about Don's work.

KW6, 
I would try the Concert Fidelity LS-080 latest version of their pre-amp.
It has the tonal richness, and transparency along with a remote. I have been using that with my Lamm Power Amps for well over 10 years and have found nothing that out does that combo in that price range.  

@kw6 feel free to give me a call/text and I can help you with an LL2.1 Deluxe.

- Colin

Lamm Industries dealer
https://gestalt.audio

Kw6,
Since 2017 I use MFA Baby Reference preamplifier V2, and I never look back. The case "preamplifier", has closed, for me, once and for all!
If you can test it, give it a try! There is no way to look back!

Thanks Colin! Will do!😀

@thanasakis oh ok will check it out! Thanks!

Nevillekapadia thanks for the suggestion!😀

Nevillekapadia googled Concert Fidelity was reviewed by Absolute Sound. Looks beautiful but $24k 😢

I’m worth I’m with thanasakis- MF baby reference has beaten 4-5 tube preamp’s in my system and isn’t cold or lean like a resistor passive.

Thanasakis I need a some tubes in my system. 

Tinear123 how would you describe the sound of the latest Don Sachs pre?

Since two years i am using the Lamm LL2.1 Deluxe and I like its sound a lot. Also to have  two outputs is very convenient as I am using the second one for my subs. However the lack of remote is not adding convenience and over the time it started to be annoying.
I have tried various alternatives and the only one that I found to deliver sonic enhancement on top of the remote operation is the Aries Cerat Incito S. It is indeed substantially more expensive, but the sound is fabulous. It is building on all strengths of the Lamm sound, bringing it to the next level. Worth trying.

P.S. the upgrade to the AC Incito S is already inevitable for me :)

Hi,
Personally I've had approximately different 60 preamps go through my reference listening room and yes I am in the audio industry.
Recently I had a very nice Karan preamp in on trade and it sounded excellent. I've also had an Absolare preamp (no remote) that was very transparent. The Lamm is another excellent choice but if I had to choose just one I would also go with the Aries Cerat Incito S line stage. Aries Cerat is my reference preamp.

Cheers,

As an alternative to "tonal richness" you actually could try a Tortuga:
http://https//www.tortugaaudio.com/products/passive-preamps/ldr3000p-v25-passive-preamp/
30 days; return shipping your only cost.
Apple remote.

Dealers opinons do not count.

Aries no doubt is good but bit pricey!😢

Fuzztone in my system I need some tubes not looking for ultimate transparency. The Tortuga volume control probably very good!

Stibi you are right as my previous preamp was the standard LTA MZ2 no remote and it drove me crazy had to get up to adjust it a tiny bit. I tried the Tidal volume slide but doesn't sound the same as fixed volume and using my preamp to adjust volume. Actually my cj preamp is not bad. Just looking for something more organic the next level. I prefer something with tube rectification. I will Google Aries again but sure out of my range. Thanks!

Wow the Aries unit is 75 lbs! Weighs more than my amp!😮

Shindo Monbrison (sorry no remote) but it’s one of the best preamp money can buy, used or new. Word of caution, once you hear the ‘house’ sound of Shindo, you’re done for life. 

Yeah I read they have a sweet organic tone. I was looking into the Aurieges. But the pre had output impedance of 5k ohms barely compatible with my amp.😟

I’m interested in this thread, because there is such universal praise for this pre. Can anyone comment on the sonic difference between this and its predecessor, the Lamm LL2 Deluxe? I bought one from a member in Hawaii about 9 years ago, and had it shipped directly to Vladimir in Brooklyn for the once over, after which he sent it to me.
Now you can believe this or not, but the pre I was trying to replace with it was a Morrison ELAD, and within a short time, I realized how disappointed I was. I would never describe it as tonally rich, and other attributes that I was hoping for like bloom, depth and wider soundstage were missing in action. After four months, I gave up and sold it. I should mention that 2 years prior to that I had purchased a second hand Joule Electra (LA 100 MK II ) and was also disappointed in that well praised pre. So my question is, is the LL2.1 a different animal?

Having heard both in my old system, I think that another possibility would be a VAC Renaissance preamp, which does have a remote.  The Lamm is a superb product; so is the VAC.

Yes I am interested to know the difference too Roxy54. When you had the original one how would discribe it if it wasn't tonally rich not bloomy and small soundstage. I think .1 has the15 db reduce gain and remote on off for Lamm amps. And small circuit changes.

Rcprince I was looking at the Vac too Renaissance MK V the one with small power supply! Not sure if it has tube rectification which I prefer.

kw6,
You just jogged my memory. I knew before I bought it from reading that it had high gain, and my speakers are very efficient, and I also read that the .1 had selectable gain, so I had Vladimir reduce the gain in mine before he returned it. 
I remember it as sounding natural enough, definitely not tubey, but in no way harsh, but lacking the dimensional tube "roundness" that I have experienced before. It was just not exceptional in any way, and that was in direct comparison to a $700.00 solid state op-amp based pre.