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 1 response by niodari

niodari's avatar
niodari
315 posts
 

To my taste, it would be hard to find a solid state amplifier that fully substitutes  a tube amp features. McIntosh solid state amplifiers tend to sound quite warm. Just for fun, you can also try a class D amplifier, you may like the result. 

I'm using the same tubes for years, and it is strange to me that you need to change them each 3 months. Perhaps you set very high bias or there is something wrong with your (pre)amplifier (preamplifier tubes normally last too long). 

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