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.
First off, no quality tubes, NOS or new should be getting noisy that often, either you're getting close to end of life tubes or pre running those tubes hard.
Last year I tried SS pre after decades with tubes, so purchased Pass XP-22 based on Pass rep of being tube lovers SS. While I tried to like, simply couldn't get past bit of dryness and the excessively precise sound staging. Scratched that itch off the list. |
@jimbones This not about you running tubes hard, some tube equipment runs plate voltages somewhat high, this shortens life of tube, someone mentioned CJ pre's as running tubes hard, this may be issue here. Someone else mentioned high home voltage as being issue, I had this issue at one time, 124-126v not uncommon, built bucking transformer to bring voltage down to 120V. Excessive DC offset on AC can also diminish tube life. Drawing excessive current through tubes can also be issue, not likely in a pre. |
@jimbones I did really like the Pass XP-22, just couldn't justify having two preamps. My greatest issue was the more tightly drawn images, this means outer edges of images more defined, with my Coincident pre, images more slightly blend with other images on soundstage, more bloom is how some describe it. The Pass is highly resolving/transparent/involving, highs will probably sound more extended vs CJ or most tube pre. Pass didn't sound sterile or anemic in my setup. I will say it didn't have the harmonic textures or micro dynamics of my Statement pre. |
