Since Krell 302e & Cary SPL-05 have (gain/imp issues) what tube pre is best w/ the krell?

What gain/impedance issue?

John (Jmcgrogan2), see my posts in this thread.

There is no issue with gain, although the gain specs of the SLP-05 are very inconsistent with John Atkinson’s measurements. As is the output impedance spec, potentially with greater significance. However as I said that thread:

In themselves none of these things should matter with the Krell amps that have been mentioned, given their very high 100K unbalanced and 200K balanced input impedances, and their moderate specified gains of about 25.5 db. However after noting some oddities in the measurements JA concluded by saying:

Though it has some anomalies, such as being happier with 10k ohm loads than with 100k ohms, the Cary SLP 05 offers respectable measured performance from its unbalanced jacks. I was a little disappointed with its behavior in balanced mode, however.

Which is not to say necessarily that the combo wouldn’t work well together, but it seems to me that there is cause for concern.

Best regards,
-- Al

Thanks Al, you teach me something new everyday!
It seems odd to me that a preamp would find a 10K load easier than a 100K load. Strange indeed.

I notice that the gain numbers in the measurements seem to be very different from not only the gain numbers at that time, but also the gain numbers posted on the Cary website today for the SLP-05. Whereas Stereophile measured 15.3/13.8 dB SE/BAL, the Cary website today has the gain as 17/24 dB SE/BAL (16/12 dB SE/BAL declared by Cary at the time of the review 10 years ago).

Makes one wonder if the SLP-05 today sounds anything like the one auditioned by Art Dudley over 10 years ago.

Cheers,
John

I have a Cary SLP-05. I've used it with over 20 different amps. Never an issue. Worked great with them all. Sounds absolutely DEVASTATING. I've heard many of the big tickets preamps. It's as good as any, and in some ways better. It is an total steal, and competes, or sometimes beats 20-30k preamps.

Agreed-
I have never read a bad review of the Cary SLP-05.  It is liked by many, many Audiophiles.

Well I disagree with a prior comment concerning ' avoiding the Krell Phantom as being overpriced'. My personal experience is that it's a phenomenal pre with build quality and cosmetics commensurate with its price in this crazy audio world. Most of the high end gear appears to be overpriced to me..Obviously you would have to buy it used as now discontinued. There's one listed on AGON for 10k. I bought mine on the advice of a head Agostino guy(prior Krell Sr mgt) saying the two box Phanthom was something very special. I'm using mine with a Momentum stereo amp to great effect. One caveat. I'm assuming the criticism from the prior post was about the two box Phantom. Just my biased opinion of course.