The only tube pre-amps I am aware of that can drive 600 ohms are Atma-Sphere’s and EAR’s. Atma-Sphere’s because Ralph Karsten is an unusually hip designer, EAR’s because Tim de Paravicini does most his work in pro recording studios (including Pink Floyd’s in London), where that ability is an absolute requirement. But Tim uses transformers to achieve his balanced outputs; to achieve the ability to drive 600 ohms from a tube pre-amp without transformers is the evidence of nothing less than pure brilliance!
Tube pre-amps: balanced a big deal?
In the market for a low priced ($2,000) tube pre-amp to match up Krell sav 300il and Thiel CS 2.3s, looking at jolida fusion, schitt Freya, dehavilland ultraverve, or similar, wondering how important it is to have balanced (xlr) connections? When I went to balanced it really opened up the soundstage, what might I lose by moving back to rca?