2. amps-preamps
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Suggestions for a holographic preamp?

I'm looking to replacing my Herron Audio tube line stage with something else, not because of a problem with the sound, but for a few other reasons.

I do both digital and analog, and have a Herron Audio tube phono preamp. My power amp is an MSB S-200, which is awesome, and my speakers are Marten Parker Duos, which are wonderful for a deep, holographic soundstage that I like so much.

I listen mostly to rock and reggae, and I'm looking to keep the price under $10K US, and I'm fine with a used one as well.

I get the feeling that I will need a tube preamp to get that holographic sound, but perhaps there are some SS ones that do as good a job?

The fellow I work with at The Music Room suggested a ModWright LS-100 or a used PS Audio BHK preamp; I've researched and they both look like they'd fit the bill, but I'd like to hear your suggestions, too! 

larsman
avanti1960
1,601 posts
 

@larsman 

sweet speakers and amplifier!  

i suggest my current preamp- the two chassis Cary Audio SLP-05 if you want a truly spatial sound stage.  

no matter which amp I have used with it over the years it never fails to deliver a huge top to bottom side to side sound stage with detailed cues of the location of musical elements in space.  

there are many NOS 6SN7 tubes you can swap as well as NOS GZ34 tube power rectifier.  All class A triode design with ultra low noise from the 2nd chassis power supply with premium R-core transformer.  The sound is also incredibly energetic and dynamic.  

larsman's avatar
larsman OP
2,444 posts
 

@avanti1960 - thank you! Actually, quite a long time ago I had a modded SLP-05, and my other gear was different then too, but it just didn't do it for me as much as I'd have liked. Could have been any number of factors, but I did give it a go! 

invalid
1,307 posts
 

@larsman check out space tech lab, there are many preamps to choose from on the website, Al the owner can customize any one of his models also. I like his reference series of preamps, he even has an 845 tube preamp, but that only has balanced outputs and no remote. Many of his models have remote and I'm pretty sure he can incorporate a mute function also. I have one of his lower model preamps, but it has great 3D sound and is also dynamic. He uses power tubes on the output stage of quite a few of his preamps.

larsman's avatar
larsman OP
2,444 posts
 

@invalid - I just checked out their website, and their product list is overwhelming! I'm not going to be doing any direct buys from Canada anyway (I love Canada, I just don't want to deal with international stuff).

And 1997 is calling them and it wants its web style back! That has to be one of the worst looking websites I've seen in a decade or more; they really should consider hiring a web developer to do an upgrade to the 21st century. 

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,168 posts
 

@larsman One other tip when investigating preamps:

The output impedance is usually specified at 1KHz. But if you want to have the preamp play bass as well as it does the midrange, the output impedance at 20Hz is nice to know too. 

If the preamp has output coupling caps or an output transformer, its likely its output impedance is much higher at 20Hz; particularly in the case of the former. 

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