This thread for you tubeguys.Nominate your favorite tube Pre Amp of all time. More info for audiogon members the better. Remember some members are just starting their high end experience.
I've only owned two tube preamps, so I am not really qualified on this subject, but one of mine is the Cary SLP 05 and I like it a lot. I own a bunch of different tubes for rolling on this unit, and certain tubes make me like it more than others do.
Around 20 years ago, I went to my dealer to audition the Stax 007 Omega II headphones. They sounded great, so I ordered a pair along with the Stax tube amplifier/energizer. When I got it into my system, it did not sound nearly as good as what I heard in the dealer's setup. When I asked about that, the dealer informed me that I auditioned the headphones while they were being fed by a Kondo M-10 linestage, which, of course, sounded much better than anything I had (or could hope to have). that is why it makes my list.
Although I am primarily a tube-electronics person, I would not turn down a Lyra Connoisseur phono stage. I heard the most explosively dynamic and vibrant analogue playback in a system having that solid state phono stage.
My favorites are custom-built linestages made by Aldo D'Urso, an Italian builder/designer. He uses mostly vintage parts, including Western Electric capacitors and transformers. I have one of his custom linestages that employs output transformers and uses Western Electric 310 and 348 tubes. The one concession to modernity is that he put in a motorized and remotely controlled volume pot to accommodate my laziness.
I have heard other models that he made that are extremely expensive and nice sounding. One has a pair of output transformers that, the transformers alone, cost about $20,000 a pair if you can find them.
Of slightly more commercial availability, I have heard and liked both the Audio Note (uk) M-10 and M-8 linestages and I also liked the Kondo M-10. Shindo also makes some good linestages. At a much lower price point, the top-of-the-line Atmasphere linestages sound good too.
Zesto Audio , some of the best gear many have never heard of.. The Leto Preamp is an incredible sounding piece. Plenty of inputs , 3 RCA , 2 XLR, 2 pair of RCA and 2 pair of XLR outputs , HT pass through.
Their Leto Ultra II is the newest version, if you are looking for something in this price segment you owe it to yourself to audition.
I just sent mine out for the ESP Power Supply upgrade, Zesto customer service is probably the best I've ever encountered in audio.
I am enjoying reading this thread as I have not had the opportunity to hear a number of these recommended preamps except for the CAT SL1, which was amazing!
I’ve read a great many magazines over the years though and wondered where you would place these tube preamps in the rankings as I remembered they had very positive reviews as well:
cj Premier II
cj Premier III
cj Premier 7
Berning TF10A/AH
Counterpoint SA5/5.1
Counterpoint SA9/11
MFA/Quintessential
Don Gerber/ Fi preamp
Marantz 7
Would any of these make the Top 10 in your opinion?
20 years later and 5 + years into owning an upgraded PV9a I just gotta say this pre has a most amazing phono stage. I have personally not heard any I prefer over this one. I would cavaet that within reasonable price constraints but maybe not? It is special.
I prefer ss, but I'll throw another vote for the Sonic Frontiers Line 3. Very neutral, still preserves the harmonic detail of tubes, yet without the usual exaggeration. Plays well with many different components, a truly impressive line stage.
Just moved from the VTSP-3A (R03) to the 360 which has been breaking in throughout the holidays. I’ll be posting some impressions in the next few weeks.
The Herron VTSP-3A(ro3) has to be on the top ten list of tube preamps. Vinalvalet, did you happen to own a VTSP-3A before you acquired your Herron VTSP-360? If so, please compare the two Herron preamps for us.
Warm and accurate in sound, versatile with 6 tone controls, and using the ubequitous 7025 (12ax7). There are three types of facia, of which the first is probably the most outstanding, with beautiful lettering in the lower centre, mustard caps inside that last a useful lifetime, and therefore sound consistent all these years and need the least hardware maintenance.
The bonus is that they are not choosy with tubes. Mine goes with 2 12ax7LPS (phono), 2 RCA long grey plates round getters (tone), 2 TKF ribbed (line), and an unknown one (for the center line output and the calibration drive).
Dare I venture my definitive and humble opinion on the strength of many tubes that have crossed my threshold (and connected to my power circuit): C.A.T. Ultimate for line, for phono -- JP200 as per rcprince & detlof and SRPP (you had to build that one yourself. It had provision for 0,5 farad power supply for phono, direct line for *aux* with interchangeable capacitance loading and *silver alloy* recommended for internal wiring -- back in the late 70s!) Admittedly, the CAT & JP80 are great all-rounders if U can afford them. SP6 & 10 are nice too, a bit ageing, however...
hey tubegroover,thanks! Found INFO: leonard at audio research said he couldn't remember the price of the upgrade but it requires eliminating the phono buffer and changing all the output caps. there's a guy in Los Angeles named gary garfield at musical fidelity 310-558-0037 who does this kind of work FYI. thanks again!!
Kublakhan Call Leonard at ARC (763) 577-9700 for upgrade info. I would also speak with Steve Huntley of http://www.greatnorthernsound.com phone 651-578-0657. Used to work for ARC and does mods. He would be throughly familiar with the differences and might offer greater insight. He personally has a 10 Mk2 that he has modified. Personally, I wouldn't pass on a SP-10 for a PH-3. If you ask Leonard I'm sure he would tell you that their current PH3 phono stage is better so I wouldn't be so ready to take his word for it.
Can someone offer up an opinion: which has a better phono stage, the arc sp10, sp10II or the arc ph3 SE??? ive got to make a decision soon. cant audition and am going on reviews in stereophile and hopefully thought from this site. thanks
I have owned the SP-10, SP-11, and JP-80MC. I have auditioned the JP200 but never extensively as owning. The SP-11 has never been a contender. Interestingly, the SP-10 improved markedly when re-tubed with 6922s for 6DJ8s. I still remember the utter musicality and enjoyment from this preamp as unsurpassed. My JP-80MC usurped the musical crown until I had to re-tube it. I was never able even to approximate the original magical qualities of this preamp despite replacement tube sets from Jadis, RAM, or $$$NOS. I still longed for the re-tubed SP-10. Now I would'nt think of using a preamp (tube or SS) without a remote volume/mute control at least. But I'd be hard-pressed to rack my aural memory and choose between these two classics for the front end honors of my apocryphal audio valediction.
The older JP200 had a phono stage; I gather this one doesn't. I also have listened to a JP200 and thought it the best full-featured preamp I'd ever heard; I would consider it over my JP80, but the cost!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greetings, Rcprince! I commend you on your mnestic powers. Yes its all broken in, except for my ears. I am still of two minds. I find the IO much quieter with a wider and deeper soundstage and a tad better separation between indiviual instruments. Probably, I must grudgingly admit, that its also more neutral. But I love that tad of euphonic coloration in the Jadis' mids, I love that bloom of individual instruments, that sonic aura, the JP80 can place around the sound of a solo violin and above all the holographic rendering of voices. The 200 does this even more than the JP 80. They are sonically very similar, only the 200 has a punch, which I never thought possible from a preamp. So I've found the Aesthetix/Jadis 200Bal a very happy marriage. However so far I mainly listen to chamber music through this combination. For big classical stuff or opera I have myself a Jadis fest with the JP80 as the RHIAA phono part through the 200's. Unfortunatedly the latter are only on loan so far, so if I suddenly disappear from Audiogon, I will probably have been caught robbing a bank in order to keep those four chassis marvels.
Hey Detlof, I gather the I/O has broken in, or was it the cables that were the problem when you first started listening (I remember your posts on the Jadis Fidelity thread)? You still feel the I/O is a little colder?
Hello Ferrari, Jadis JP80 to draw me into the music, as once the all tube, two chassis Beverdige did in the seventies. JP 200 balanced with the Aesthetix IO phonostage in front has given me the most musical, dynamic and deadquiet vinyl rendering, which I've heard on my stators so far. Might fiddle around with tubes in the future, but doubt if I'll ever change this vinyl setup again.
Martin, without a price range it's kind of tough to answer your question. There are plenty of suggestions in this thread above. If you listen primarily to classical or jazz, I'd suggest a used Jadis, but that's not cheap, even used; also, among the newer equipment, the Herron line and phono stages are excellent, with a very clean, detailed yet dimensional presentation. But I would not dismiss the thought of having your SP-10 modified by Great Northern Sound or another skilled modifier; I think that you'd find that may bring you a "state of the art" preamp as well. There isn't that much new in preamp circuitry that I've seen which would make your preamp obsolete, and I would expect that upgrades in capacitors, resistors and the like might give you the added clarity you're looking for without necessarily losing the character of the unit that you like. Just my opinion.....
go to the tech-talk topic & czech out the *believers vs non believers* & the ps-audio threads. yule learn that all electronics sound alike, w/the possible exception of toob-stuff - which sounds distorted, so those of us who like toobs obviously prefer more distortion... ;~)
that said, i defy ewe to find a better-sounding preamp than the melos music-director for ~$2k used. or for *any* price, for that matter... :>)
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