2. amps-preamps
  3. 191802-4635

Solid State Preamp to replace tube unit

I currently own a CJ tube preamp. Ive always owned tube preamps and I would like to get my first solid state preamp.I am fed up with buying expensive hard to find tubes that last 3 months or new production tubes with that not so great sound. I pine for consistency. I probably wont sell my CJ I'll just keep it. My power amps are NAD M23 for the summer and CJ Premiere 12's for the winter.

Since I dont dabble in the solid state world I am not sure what to get. I figure since this is my first SS unit 4-5k preowned??. Some brands I have considered CODA< Pass, AYRE, Classe, Bel Canto, Krell etc. Note: I have tried the Parasound and Benchmark but they didnt do it for me. I dont like anayltical sterile sound. If it is a touch warm/colored that is probably good as I am coming from a very warm CJ tube unit.

Must haves are a remote with balance control. Multiple outputs (XLR and RCA). I have an outboard phono pre. Thank you for reading and for your suggestions.

jimbones

Showing 2 responses by larryi

larryi
4,189 posts
 

I have been running tube gear for more than twenty years and never had a single tube go bad.  The tubes in my current linestage were of unknown age and usage before they went into my unit which I have owned for more than 15 years.  The amp I’ve had even longer and it too had old tubes installed when I got them.  My phonostage, which has tubes and a separate power supply, suffered the only “failure” I’ve ever had—a shelf fell on the power supply wiping out the twin 300B’s that served as rectifiers; this happened a couple of weeks ago.

larryi
4,189 posts
 

With tube gear, a lot of premature failure of tubes can be traced to too high voltage coming out of the outlet.  When customers complain of excessive tube failure, the local shop has the person measure the voltage.  He then recommends transformers that are specifically matched to the voltage coming out of the outlet to drop the voltage to something that is quite low, such as 112-115.  A variac works too, and has the added flexibility of being able to adjust the voltage to changing conditions, but, for some reason, the fixed transformers sound better (according to my dealer anyway).  I get a close to rock solid 117 from my outlets so I don't bother, but, I know some people who have measured 124 volts from their outlets and that is not good at all for tube gear.

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