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Tube Preamp into Active Speakers - Recommendations

I am the happy owner of some Quad 12L Actives and currently run them via a mid-fi Rotel 1070 preamp. I'd like to try a tube preamp but would like to keep both the noise and budget to a minimum. That said, I think I'd like to have balanced outputs on the tube premap.

Any experiences, warnings or suggestions?
ktennis
kjweisner's avatar
kjweisner
293 posts
 
I think you can't go wrong with a BAT VK-3i or any of its more expensive siblings. The VK-3is can be had at fair prices in the used market and you get them w/remote and/or phono board installed, so be sure of what you are buying and don't pay for what you don't need. They are fully balanced designs.
jsterritt
3 posts
 
Cayin makes a brilliant line of tube gear. I use the pre stage of their A-100T integrated (preamp out was a free mod) to add life and a soundstage to active monitors. I believe their preamp is under $1000. The cheapest integrated amp is only $1200. Wow, and I mean it.
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