Tube Preamp - What to buy?
A word of caution when buying Conrad Johnson do your homework they sound wonderful but they run There tubes hard therefore you’ll be going through tubes and it has a tendency to get noisy I am a previous owner of the Classic 120 SE Amp and ET7 Pre I discussed this with Conrad Johnson and they were on able to rectify the situation! Best of luck |
Hello SPeter, I used several tube preamplifiers and have finally settled down with Atma Sphere brand, which is made in USA. I live in Paris. Here in Europe we have many higly regarded manufacturers specialized in tube gear like Jadis, Ear Yoshino, Audio Note, Quad etc. I ended up my search of ideal amplification (tube pre+amp) with an american product, simply because Atma Sphere products are very particular and personaly I enjoy them the most. I'm saying this after testing or owning many highly regarded products (I've been an audiophile since 1995). In your budget on S/H market my first choice would be Atma Sphere MP-3, and my second choice would be Ear Yoshino 868. You may need a couple of $$$ more to acquire them, but this will be also your last preamplifier. Do not go for young brands, stuff made in china, and other products "à la mode". Mastering of tube technology needs a longtime experience & dedicated hand-made hard work. So, only a couple of brands still have time and well-trained people to do it correctly. |
If you want to hear what a tube pre-amp does, the Xiangsheng 728A is a good introduction, about $300 and presumably not difficult to resell . My experience is athttps://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/buyers-report-xiangsheng-728a-tube-pre-amplifier.963... |
A mighty AR pair, too early for remote control https://www.ebay.com/itm/254683743455?hash=item3b4c5584df:g:zlYAAOSwkldfKDmX |
Unless you can get one of the above name brand pieces used you can see if you can get something from the Backert labs line used. But all that may be a stretch. Integrated would be a good way to go. But if you are happy with your amp, for a starter tube preamp you can’t go wrong with a Schiit Freya+. You will be way under budget and have some money remaining to get a better than starter used phono stage. |
Recently went back to tube mono blocks and tubed preamp. I can honestly say that I find the Rogue Audio RP-1 to be quite amazing for its price. Variable loading for the phono cartridge and it sounds very good, plenty of inputs and dual preamp outs, remote and the tube options are plentiful should one wish to roll for flavoring. I've had plenty of pieces over the years and the RP-1 strikes a chord with me like the Krell KSP-7b did moons ago, Find it extremely enjoyable to listen to for hours at a time. Worth some research since it falls well under your budget. |
in budget, right up your alley, includes Phono and remote, how nice that is. https://www.ebay.com/itm/124788183810?hash=item1d0df49302:g:x4sAAOSwkaVg15if seller says no returns, but you can buy the square trade 1 yr warranty, and you are always covered by eBay/Paypal, no risk really. IMO, given the speaker’s 88 sensitivity, start with Tube Preamp into your existing amps, then get ready for either more efficient speakers for future tube amps, or bigger tube amps for those speakers, and who knows what other speakers in the future. |
Audio Research and CJ are at opposite ends of the sonic spectrum. the sonic gap has been narrowing for some time now, at this point, their top of line pieces are rather convergent.... c-j gat and arc ref 6/10 are both very extended, impactful, excellent bass drive, with tube beauty and richness in the midband, and expansive, deep quite specific soundstaging days of crystal clear fast grounded arc vs c-j’s honey colored beauty with sloppy bass and rolled off treble date back to circa 2000, when the arc sp-16 and c-j pv12 were current c-j still dedicated to single ended connections while arc top stuff is balanced only... that is a major distinction that persists |
No phono stage... but I'd be looking at Don Sach's and Aesthetics. http://www.dsachsconsulting.com/custom%20line%20stage.html http://http//www.dsachsconsulting.com/custom%20line%20stage.html |
CJ ET3se preamps are the newest entry level I can find. You can get a phono card for it from CJ. Then there is the older CT6. Both will serve you well. FWIW I have the CT5. Enjoy https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649744606-conrad-johnson-et3-se-pre-amp-for-sale13125d-x-19w... Or https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisabcib-conrad-johnson-ct6-tube-preamp-tube |
This brand spankin’ new Rogue RP-1 fits the bill with budget and features minus tone controls. I doubt you will find a preamp with tone controls! https://www.overtureav.com/audio/preamplifiers/rogue-audio-preamplifiers/rogue-audio-rp-1-preamp/ |
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Recently there was for sale, used, a Quicksilver Linestage for $875 and a Belles SA-100 mono block pair for $1900. That would have been an incredible deal. The Belles is gone, but the Linestage might still be out there. That leaves you a reasonable amount for a good amp. Buying, new, however -- integrated would be a good way to go. |
Audio Research and Conrad Johnson are outstanding choices. ARC was my first solid piece of audio equipment. Built to last truly audiophile quality so will sound great regardless of age. If I was starting over it would be these two brands I would concentrate on. Now, over the last 40 years I slowly worked my way up the Audio Research ladder and added more pieces and more contemporary ones. Now my system is all Audio Research Reference equipment (click on my user name, you can see my systems). I also found greater synergy between the pieces. |
