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Solid State Preamp recommendation for $2500?

Hi,

I am looking for some Solid State preamp recommendations. My budget is up to $2500, new or used, perhaps could be stretched to $3000 for something really special. I have fairly neutral, easygoing equipment (upgraded McCormack amp and Tyler Acoustics speakers) and like to listen to all kinds of music, but primarily jazz, classical, electronic, and some rock.

Due to changing circumstances in my system (or rather discoveries) I have pretty much determined that a solid state preamp is the only thing that will work in my system. I have an amp and speaker combo that puts out some serious white noise from tube preamps (I have tried 4 so far, all with the same results, and all preamps were OK in other systems). I have tried 2 solid state preamps, both were dead quiet. So, it is either get rid of the amp, or get a solid-state preamp. As my amplifier is a McCormack DNA-125 rev Gold, I would take a serious hit if I were to sell it, and it sounds pretty darn good. I am guessing I would have to spend alot more than the $2200 I have into it to get comparable performance. Unfortunately, I love tube preamps, but am totally fed up with background hiss that is audible at 15 feet and muddies the music.

I did hear a Classe CP-700 recently that sounded wonderful, but it overshoots my budget, and I can't help but think I am paying for features that I don't need, like the cool but (for me) useless interface). I just want a nice 2-channel preamp, old-school/no remote is fine.
dawgcatching

Showing 3 responses by jmcgrogan2

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Special thanks to Musical_sounds for more shilling on the NAT brand. Quickly making NAT the new D&K of 2008/2009 with his guerilla marketing.

Dawgcatching, I don't think a tube preamp will work for you, because the McCormack amps are noted for having low input impedences, and generally do not work well with tube preamps.

I'll also recommend the Klyne preamps as well as the JR Capri. Seem to be very good SS preamps. You may also consider mating your McCormack amp with the McCormack RLD-1 preamp.....could be some synergy there.

Cheers,
John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Tvad, you are correct, the input impedence for the DNA-125 is 100K, which wouldn't seem to cause an impedence mismatch. I must have been thinking of the DNA-500, which has a 10K input impedence.

However, the issue could be gain matching, as many tube preamps output a higher voltage than their SS counterparts. I also see that the DNA-125 requires only 1V input to drive full output, that's a relatively low sensitivity. By comparison, the DNA-500 requires 2.25 V for full output.
I could only find output voltage for the Dehavilland Ultraverve, which is 30V.

So a 30V maximum output from a preamp into a amp that only requires 1 volt input for full output could well be overloading the amp. Stick with SS preamps, many good ones have already been recommended.

Cheers,
John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Thanks for the update...yes, the journey IS the adventure....enjoy the ride. Tube rolling is fun for some, not so much so for others.

Thanks for starting this thread though and thanks to Ferrari I now know Classe made a DR 7. I have heard/owned/enjoyed many Classe products, but never heard of the DR 7 until now. That's wht makes these threads so fun and informative. FWIW Ferrari, I also owned a Coda 01p many years ago, and it is another great SS preamp suggestion. One of the best full function SS preamps out there, especially considering the price one could buy a used one for. However, I currently reside in Tubesville, and I can't see any going back to SS for me. I know enough to never say never though.....

Cheers,
John
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