Solid State preamp Brands

Two of my favorite preamps were both Hybrid. An older ARC SP-9mk2 and a PS Audio, BHK Signature preamp. I truly enjoy being able to change their sound by rolling a couple of tubes.

All the best in your search.

Don’t forget the tried and true proven Parasound JC 2 

There out there on the market used for a bargain

$2000 range.  They would be $6000 if they were made in the USA

Taiwan assembled and very reliable neutral sounding

love mine 

Good luck 

 

 

larryi

3,911 posts

09-29-2024 at 10:23pm

I am a tube gear fan. While I don’t think Ayre gear sounds particularly like tube gear, and their stuff is not tonally warm, I like their sound for some reason.

I bet I know what you mean... it’s the magic that caught my ear and is draining my wallet.

What Ayre gear have you heard and maybe I can share something that may be of interest.

I own / have owned:

• KX-R Twenty preamp
• MX-R monos (upgrading to Twenty soon)
• QX-5 Twenty Streaming DAC / Hub (replaced QB-9 Twenty)
• VX-5 Twenty amp
• K-5xeMP Preamp (awesome value / best "non-Variable Gain" preamp I’ve heard)
• AX-7e Integrated Amp (Awesome Secret)
• QB-9 Twenty DAC (sold)

@jim2 that is one awesome looking build. wow.

@willy-t  yes the JC2 is very well made. I thought the bass was the very best Ive heard, buy the high end not so much...

jim2,

Wow! that is quite the collection of Ayre gear.  I like their linestage, amplifiers and integrated amps, never heard a bad one, but, I have not heard their DACs.  I don't mind the odd quirks, like the mechanical movement of their rotary stepped attenuators by remote control making clunking sounds; they apparently prefer this sort of switching to relay switching.