2. amps-preamps
  3. 195181-91930

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
larsman's avatar
larsman OP
2,527 posts
 

@vthokie83  - for sure, thanks for asking!

I put in an order for a LTA MicroZOTL a month ago and it should arrive on Monday.

In the meantime, I found a really nice used Aric Audio Super 6SN7 at a good price on USAM (the seller was moving up to the Motherlode XL as he wanted XLR connections) so I bought that. I've had some nice correspondence with Aric since then - and yep, what a great guy!!

The stock tubes were holding it back though, so I ordered some upgraded 6SN7's from Brent Jessee, and it sounded great with those until one of the tubes started making noises from my speaker that were like gunshots, and I'm exchanging those.

I'll likely keep the MicroZOTL as well - I can 'roll' preamps depending on the music and might be able to replace some of my tube headphone amps with the MicroZOTL.

I was considering the Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme, but with its higher price than the others, I think I'll stick with these two. 

vthokie83
1,085 posts
 

larsman

That's great to hear, I'll add a second preamp sometime next year too

imjerrys
27 posts
 

An Audio Research LS28SE increased the size of a soundstage significantly vs a Benchmark HPA4. Now the latter is used as a headphone amp for my Meze Elite headphones. 

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