Preamps-Tube

The tube pre and ss power is a pretty good way to go.  I have a Pass Labs x150 mated with an Ayon Audio pre and I am very happy with the combination.

Allnic L-3000-hard to find used but a great tube pre.

I have mostly used tube PreAmps with my tube Amp and am very happy with tube PreAmps. Currently I have Reimyo CAT 777 as Pre on my system.  Its tube complement includes two 12AU7s for amplification, two 12BH7As as tube buffers, and two 6X4WAs as tube rectifiers. I think they are all GEC NOS tubes as originally installed by the company. I am very happy with it and have stopped looking further . 

I’m using a Mapletree Audio Design line stage. 2 chassis with tube rectification. I’ve stopped looking for better.

+1 ... Me too! Agree. And one of the best features is being able to run 6SN7 or 12SN7 tubes, depending on your taste and budget.

I recently added a Vinnie Rossi LIO DHT Pre to my system (Daedalus, Wells Audio, Lampizator) and it sounds fantastic. The most harmonically complete sound Ive ever had. And as far as any glare or harshness, it is smooth as Ive ever heard in my room, yet dynamic and lacking nothing imo... With the DHTs implemented this way, you will not even think of needing or wanting tube rectification.

I should add that I have very sensitive hearing to high freq glare and/or harshness. It is no longer present in my system.

I’m using a Mapletree Audio Design line stage. 2 chassis with tube rectification. I’ve stopped looking for better. They are custom built in Canada, and not very expensive considering the performance. Check them out here https://hollowstate.netfirms.com/.
Good luck! ! !

Consider the Cary SLP-05 tube amplifier with tube rectifier power supply. In my experience it is "lusher" than the CJ. It was Densis Had's no holds barred pre-amp and is a real upgrade from the SLI-80. It is quite detailed and lush at the same time  It has a high output impedance, so you should have a high input impedance on your amp. Had is no longer with Cary, but they still sell and support the SLP-05.

Prima Luna is also popular with many, although I do not have any experience with it.

I haven't had the pleasure of hearing either of Backert Labs new preamps but I am  familiar with the Backert's and what they look for in sound.  If you are looking for something to ameliorate upper midrange prominence I would look to cj.  The Backerts have always striven for a dynamic, tonally neutral sound.  Not saying there gear would be in anyway bright, just neutral through the audio frequency range.

The Backert Labs preamps are pretty amazing, especially at that price. I've heard them in a number of systems and have always been impressed. I am guessing that they have a bright future. Cheers,
Spencer

The little dude called Cary AES, amused me the most when I tried that and became one of my most favorable tube preamp designs.

Jmc:
 I should correct my spelling

Brackert Labs Rhumba is the preamp
it has solid state rectification as does CJ , I think. The CJ et3 & et5 were forward and detailed in highs, et5 was much better highs  ( tie to Teflon caps?)

ive listened to a Cary Sli-80 and it had tube rectifiers & was very soft( I assume that is lush?) in the high end ( but an integrated)
it was listenable on highs, but soft, soft,  on the rest of Frequency spectrum

ive read that " Leben, Shindo, etc all " all use tube rectifiers ?

It's to bad I can't hear all the preamps in one spot ( lol)

never heard a Joule ( I think Cary & Joule are tube rectifiers, too)

Dazed and Confused

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

I've never heard of the Rhuma preamp, but if you are seeking a lush sounding preamp, CJ is a good place to start.
You may also want to try a Cary or Joule Electra preamp.

My ears always seem to prefer tube preamps and Phono stages that use tube rectification in their power supply,  bear in mind this is within an apples to apples price range point.

I don't think my ModWright LS36.5 is overly lush, but it's pretty darn good; works great with my Pass as well.