2. amps-preamps
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Tube Preamp suggestion for the uninitiated

I'm a graduating medical student from UW Madison, and have a relatively limited budget that involves selling off everything I own on ebay in order to afford nice audio equipment. (In case you wanted to know...)

Currently have some TAD Hibachi monoblocks and monitor audio RS6 towers, and I need some tube loving preamplification after my VDAC. I have about $900 but could scrounge up to $1k if deemed quite necessary.

Perhaps advice from someone who knows what they are talking about and has the freedom to buy and try a couple of preamps? Something with nice low end and to smooth out the highs? Please no advice if you've only owned one preamp and like it! That doesn't count!
drhartung

Showing 1 response by hack

hack
185 posts
 
The only preamplifier I can think of in your price range would be an Audio Research (I owned a SP9 MK II, SP11)before moving on to more expensive BAT tube preamps. An intro to tube preamplifers:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1300393330&/Audio-Research-ls2b-mkii-great

If you can stretch a bit/haggle I highly recommend this BAT preamp (I owned one for 8 years):

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1299011864&/BAT-VK30-tube-preamplifier

I've heard good things about Rogue preamps, I haven't owned one but evidently it's a good value. Otherwise you're left with a variety of preamps from China:

Jolida, Shanling, Shengda, Dared etc...
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