Tube preamp and McCormack DNA-500

I believe my VAC Std LE also had 2 outputs.

I have also had a Vac Std. LE on loan for a week from a friend. Great pre but a lot more tube rush in my system than the Peach.
Maybe my friend's tubes needed replacing so I'm not sure that is a fair statement. It sounded great, however.
Also owned the Modwright for awhile. It was very quiet and had great prat. Too solid state sounding for my taste, however.
I'd take the Peach any day of the week over the Modwright.
In fairness, though, the Modwright I owned was an earlier unit that did not have tube rectification. From what i have read, this makes a very nice difference and may make it a closer race with the Peach.
Hope my audiophilia nervosa helps you with your search.

I had the VAC Standard LE first with the DNA-500 and that was the preamp I had in mind with my post. Sorry I wasn't a little more clear. It was also much better than "OK".... you should be very pleased if that's the route you choose.

Thanks again for all the recommendations. Which of the above preamps leans more in the direction of a smooth tube sound as opposed to leaning more to a smooth solid state sound?

Example: I've read that the Modwright Swl 9.0 sounds very good with the DNA-50. But, I've also read that if you're looking for any tube presence with the Modwright look elsewhere, but if you're looking for neutrality the Modwright delivers.

I would try VAC, used. Had very good luck with my 500.

Bnrlaw and Tvad, I'll consider your suggestion. I like that cherry cabinet on the Peach II on sale now, wish it was an original Peach.

I think you could buy a used Peach and have Mark Deneen, the owner of Juicy Music, install another set of pre outs.
He would be happy to talk about it. Very nice guy.
No longer selling new units but he will service all units currently in field, as it were.

Thanks everyone, and any more thoughts are welcome...

Tvad, thanks for the detailed posts and good looking out. The Lamm LL2 was off my list already because of results I saw posted by another DNA-500 user. As Steve said about preamp output impedance specs, "lower is better, at least in this regard."

Just get a used Juicy Music Peach, set it to Low output impedance setting and you are done.
I have had both a Manley Shrimp and a Peach hooked up to a Gamut D200 solid state amp with a relatively low input impedance and the Peach won hands down. The Shrimp was lacking soul in comparison. It sounded nice and checked all the typical audiophile boxes but it just didn't have the flow and naturalness of the Peach.
Sold the Shrimp a long time ago. Still have the Peach.

Well, I just recieved the Jumbo Shrimp,from Manley, as a gift. I own the McCormack DNA 0.5. I really like the J.S., lively sound, quiet, good bass. The cost for the J.S. is $2300.00. I have seen the Shrimp listed here with in your price range.

have very good results driving McCormack with a Golden Tube SEP2. The SEP3 is the same pre but with a separately boxed power supply (for allegedly lower noise). Great stage & imaging, full bodied, musical, warm sonic signature, remote control, very low noise (much unlike many other tube pre's that I tried, some quite expensive). The SEP's are out of production but can still be found inexpensively, although unfortunately Solo Electronics is history. Service is yet available from a number of sources if ever needed. The single ended triodes are readily rollable with a number of alternatives, but I have never felt the need. Very satisfied with this pre; bigtime performance for low cost.

Not quite your amp but I have a DNA-1 with McCormack Platinum mods. I use a Art Audio Gill Alana tube pre with success on a variety of speakers. My Rogers 15 Ohm LS 3/5a's, Harbeths 7 es3's, Meadowlark Blue Heron II's, Merlin VSM-Mmx, and B&W 801F's were thrown in the system All but the Harbeths seem to shine with this Alana: clean, full soundstage with very good definition and clarity. The Harbeth's sounded somewhat muddled, just didn't seem to like the combo. An Art Audio preamp shows up on 'Gon from time to time; I would not hesitate to mate one with the 500 if it is in your price range.

Try VTL TL-5.5. It's right at the top of the spectrum of your budget. My impression of this preamp was excellent dynamics, transparency, full and large soundstage.

Cary SLP98 has 2 sets of preouts. Great preamp too.

Need a second set of pre outs for subs.

Modwright SWL.

I been there and done that. Really nice combo.

Foster,
There's a pro product called ATI "The Match Maker" that has an output impedance close to zero and is very newtral. You can sometimes spot it on ebay for less than $100 and consider that as a very cheap tweak.
That will bring your choice of tube amps way up above the limit.

"First what have you been using before?"

Haven't been using any preamp before; just got the 500.

I also need 2 pairs of preamp outs.

Keep in mind that most (though not all) preamps with two sets of output jacks simply jumper them together, at the connectors, just inside of the rear panel. A relatively small number of preamps provide separate buffer stages for the two outputs.

That has two implications if you choose a preamp that does not have separate buffer stages for the two outputs:

1)The preamp will see a load impedance that represents the parallel combination of the input impedances of the two devices to which it is connected. The specifications for the DNA-500 indicate that its input impedance is 10K ohms. If the preamp were simultaneously connected to another 10K load, the combined load would be 5K, and you would want to have a preamp with an output impedance of no more than 400 ohms, to maintain the ratio Steve recommended of preamp output impedance to power amp input impedance.

If the input impedances of the two loads are not equal to each other, they combine as the reciprocal of the sum of the reciprocals of the individual impedances. If there are exactly two loads present, that is the same as the product of the two values divided by their sum. So 10K in parallel with 25K, for example, would yield a combined impedance of about 7.14K, which would mean that the maximum preamp output impedance that would be consistent with Steve's recommendation would be 800*(7.14/10) = 571 ohms.

2)You could use a y-adapter cable in conjunction with a preamp that just has one set of outputs, and (assuming the cable is good quality, and connections are good), the results (and the required preamp output impedance) would be no different than using a preamp with two sets of outputs which are not separately buffered.

Keep in mind, also, that running two sets of cables from the same preamp output buffer stage (whether via a y-adapter or from two sets of jacks that are connected together within the preamp) will double the cable capacitance that the preamp has to drive. If cable capacitance is too high in relation to the preamp output impedance, upper treble rolloff will result.

Regards,
-- Al

First what have you been using before?

In my knowlege there aren't too many tube preamps that are realy good for DNA500 which dictates the limited choice.
Manley Shrimp seems to be a great match only if $1k is true for used.

Not sure if this one will outperform your current setup if that is what you're aiming for with tubes.

Try this one:
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1254098340&/Audioprism-Mantissa-Stereo-Tub

It works wonderfully with my DNA .5 Rev A, especially after upgrading the coupling caps to teflons.

Enjoy,
Bob

The Manley Labs Shrimp has an output z of 50ohms and 2 pairs of preouts. Price New $1880 w/o remote $2300 w/remote
There is a used one on this site for $1050.The ad has all the specs.No affiliation,just trying to help.

I also need 2 pairs of preamp outs.

I've been using a Rogue 99 Magnum with a DNA225 with great results. Used would be right in your price range...