Vacuum Tube Preamp for Solid State Power Amp Pairing

I have a Supratek Chardonnay with 6SN7 tubes and it has adjustable gain.  It’s a great preamp!  It also has true balanced input and output so I have it paired with Orchard Audio Premium Monoblocks.  Great combo.

I was close to getting a VTL pre amplifier but customer service was a huge problem. Not very friendly out there in California who make this.

I have Supratek's Chardonnay. Funny as I told Mick to make the best sounding preamp he could, price no object and he settled on the Chardonnay. Cost $3700, usually $2650 st the time. I know the Cabernet is supposedly better or the Grange but I'm thinking he took me at my word as wanting nothing too euphonic, 

And yes, pretty most all his 6SN7 preamps have gain control

The recommendation for the Primaluna Evo 400 preamp above is good.  I used to use one on my primary system and, in fact, it’s sitting on a shelf currently awaiting use in my to-be built system in my vacation home.  I really like their looks and sound in most circumstances.  Gave just the amount of tube sound I wanted.

i did get a weird feedback when listening to certain albums (consistently certain Rolling Stones tracks) at high volume with the Evo 400.  Running balanced into Classe Delta Monoblocks and from a Van den Hul Grail SE phone amp.  Couldn’t ever resolve it.

Switched to a Nagra HD preamp (also tube) and it went away.  The Nagra is markedly better in all ways, so I’ve never switched back on my system.  But they’re generally pretty pricey and not necessary for most systems.

sim_audio_nerd

The CODA S5.5 is a killer of an amp in it's own right, but pair it up with a great tube preamp.....and it's brilliant

My recommendation would be for the 6SN7 based preamp the Cary Audio SLP-98L.  Beautiful unit with remote power supply chassis and an uncanny realistic tone quality but I fear the gain would be too much for the Chord amp and the Rothwell attenuators did not work well for me.  

The Rogue Audio units are fantastic but I recommend to stay mid-range and go with the RP-5.  I had the RP-7 and it was too burnished and polite sounding and did not respond well to any NOS tubes.  The RP-5 sounds smooth and still retains excellent detail.  Nice looking unit too.  

My advice would be first and foremost you have a high quality amplifier. Stay in the same league or higher. Don't buy a piece of shiit. Don't be afraid of an older high end unit the Hovland was considered one of the best preamplifier s made at the times as well as the bad boy audio research and CJ models. A little known American made company that you will find cheap would be a canary audio. Look for either the best one that was in four boxes completely seperate channels and separate power supplies or the two box one with seperate power supplies and internationally separate like the four box model. Also don't be afraid of a sonic frontier preamplifier number three. That would have balanced in and out. Go for a high quality preamplifier before you worry about a cheap one with a remote. 

I pair my PrimaLuna EVO 300 pre (not integrated) with a PassLabs XA25 SS and happy with it. PL has been mentioned before in this thread.

I'd be looking for a quality preowned line stage. Thinking an Aesthetix, Calypso Signature or, if cash flow permitted, a Con-Jon Act2 or ARC Reference 5. The latter 2 are in the $5-$6K range and the Calypso maybe a bit less? 3 very different tube strategies but all equally excellent. Keep the phono stage off-board.

Just my opinion. 

@jackd I do that, but I just don’t feel it to be the best solution.

I use an original version Schiit Freya (NOS GE tubes) with either a Dennis Had Firebottle HO SEP tube amp or a Pass XA-25. No impedance matching issues just great sound from "Class A" (except for the Had amp...somewhat rarer it seems) components. Spend more if you wish but this preamp is amazing, and the "original" version keeps the tubes on even when listening to one of the passive modes which allows instant switching. The new "+" version has you wait for the tubes to warm up...no biggie.

gryphongryph

No I have Aric's top preamp, the Motherlode XL.....but that is more money still.....and I was trying to respect Terenthia's budget.

My top two preamps would be the Aric Audio Motherlode XL ($6,500) and the Don Sachs/Lynn Olson Raven ($5,900) preamps.

@gryphongryph 

Why don't you try the Rothwell attenuators for when you want to use the 6SN7 output of the preamp. Sure cheaper than a new amp.  

I guess you have the 6SN7 ?

@vthokie83 my Grange has adj gain. Paired with my Coda S5.5 it is a splendid combo!

What’s your max $$ budget ?

@vthokie83 I have the dual Cabernet with 6SN7 and 300B output, unfortunately only the 300B has adjustable gain, with my power amp the 6SN7 sounds better. So I have a bit of a gain mismatch, thinking about getting a StringAmp d220 power amp that has adjustable gain input.

LTA MICROZOTL MZ3 Headphone Amp / Preamp / Integrated Amp. A marvelous piece of kit. Punches way above its price point. If you can get a used one from the manufacturer LTA, get the upgraded tubes, that's a steal. 

gryphongryph

I thought all Suprateks have adjustable gain? I talked to Mick and he thought his preamps would work well with my CODA S5.5, though I'd have to adjust gain. Maybe I'm mistaken, but my friend's Grange is adjustable

I have the Supratek Cabernet dual

sounds beautiful, just remember that it is a high gain pre.

Terenthia

For under $3,000 I'd recommend the Supratek Chardonnay preamp, $3,000 with chrome accents and $2,500 with black accents. Hand made in Australia, and Mick Maloney is a really smart dude......and great to talk to. That's what I would buy for that price range, and it's a 6SN7 tube based

For $4,000 my first choice would be the Aric Audio 6SN7 preamp, and second would be the Supratek Cabernet (the next step up from the Chardonnay). Both hand made, point to point wired, with the  highest quality of  components. For disclosure, I own Aric's preamp and amps

I'm using a BAT VK-80 Tube preamp. They just discontinued this model, and the replacement model unfortunately is solid state, but you can find them on the used market. Build quality is amazing and sound is extremely good. They use the same 6H30 tubes that Audio Research uses in many of their tube amps.

You can't go wrong with a (used or new) Conrad Johnson, VTL,  or  Manley preamp.  I believe also Rogue would be good although I have no personal experience with them,. If you buy used you can likely sell it for what you paid. 

. 

+1 for the Audio-GD HE1-XLR.....I own one and it's a 10K tubed preamp in a 4K package. You can't beat it for the $$. It's a monster w/ 10 tubes and it's own Regenerative Power Supply.

Thank you everyone for your input here, there are some really interesting pieces mentioned on this thread and I’m looking forward to researching each in more depth. (Of course I’ve already started…) I’m excited at the prospect of hearing the combination of a decent tube preamp with my ss power amp!

Pro Ject Pre Box RS2 Digital. Balanced  I/O,  dual DAC, headphone amp, selectable tube output, remote. I pair one of mine with a NAD C298 Purifi digital amp, another with a set of Buchardt actives.

+1 on the Rogue suggestion. 

Backert Labs Rhumba.. very well made…consistent and very low output impedance that will match well with a variety of power amps. 

 But, I don’t recall it coming with remote control.  

@larryi FWIW Dept.: Remote has been available for years for the MP-3. It might be a bit of a trick to find one with the remote at the price mentioned though.

You can't go wrong with Audio Research.  Modwright makes really good tube preamps.  If you can find a pre-owned Herron Audio VTSP-360, that's a great piece.

If you're into tweaking, check out the Musical Paradise MK III. 

It has switches that allow you to change the voltage, so many different tube types can be used. Also it has "binding posts" on the major caps so you can swap in different capacitors for a different sound.

It comes with a remote too.

like the EAR and Hovland.  However, I believe these did not come with remote control.  I think remote control of volume is a necessity

Not sure about the Hovland but the EAR 868 pre has a remote control

Rogue Audio makers excellent tube preamps.  I am running their RP-7 preamp into solid state Odyssey monobloc power amplifiers to drive my Fyne Audio F-702.  Electronics made here in the USA but speakers made there in the UK (Scotland).  The results are superb, and a new RP-5 might be in your price range, and the RP-7 used should be close, as well.

@bluethinker same here... 

@terenthia @audioman58 - I also recommend the LTA Microzotl level 2 preamp. It’s really a marvelous piece of equipment. You get spaciousness and detail wrapped in a subtle tube tone. Since purchasing it, I’ve lost interest in considering other preamps. Highly recommended. 

Yes, Aric at Aric Audio should be your next call. His tube gear, easily competes with anything at 3-4X the price. 

I love the tube preamp with a solid state or hybrid smp.  My modded JC1 Parasound monoblocks sounded fantastic with the Aric Audio Motherlide II tube preamp.  I also have the PSAudio BHK 300 monblock hybrid amps fed by the Motherlode XL tube preamp - awesome.  I have also paired the PSAudio M1200  class D hybrid monoblocks with Aric Audio tube preamps with great success.  One reason I like tubes in the preamp is that they are lower maintenance than tubes in amps - at least ones without automatic biasing.  I also like the solid state amp grip better on the low end of the frequency spectrum.

I like the MP3 and its big brother too.  But, I don’t recall it coming with remote control.  

@terenthia Since your amp has balanced inputs you might consider taking advantage of that. We don't make a balanced preamp in your price range but you might be able to find one of our MP-3 preamps used for that price.

The advantage of balanced lines is better cable immunity; IOW they can be more neutral and so more musical.

I am not that familiar with linestages in your price range, but I did notice that some very good vintage ones were mentioned, like the EAR and Hovland.  However, I believe these did not come with remote control.  I think remote control of volume is a necessity, which does remove those few brands that don’t offer it, like Audio Note (Audio Note is also disqualified by price, but certainly not by sonic considerations).

This!

This is a Hovland HP-100 preamp.  To over-simplify things, there are two types of tube preamps, the kind that appeals to the audiophile side of you, and then the one where you just like to sit, relax, and listen to music because it sounds warm, has a full sound, inviting, and takes the edge off music.  This Hovland is the latter.  If you want ultra detail & speed, that'd be Audio Research.  I have one of these Hovland pre's and it plays well with my solid state amps from Pass, Esoteric and Audio Research.  Lastly, be sure you use a good power cord, like a Shunyata Python CX or Zitron, or even better yet, a Anaconda CX/Zitron.  If you got the bucks for the newer Alpha V2 or even better Sigma V2 power cords, those are something else.  One of these cords plugged into my AQ Niagara 7000 really makes a nice difference.  

+1

Used:

Conrad Johnson

Audio Research

VAC

These sub $5k, rated class A gears might be viable choices...

Audio-GD Vacuum HE1

Lab12 Pre1

PrimaLuna EVO 400

Rogue Audio RP-7

What pre are you using now, what improvements are you looking for over that, and what sound characteristics are most important to you?  This info will result in recommendations much more suited to your specific tastes/needs.  And don’t worry too much about output impedance as it’s a non issue with your amp for almost all preamps on the market. 

I recently went with the Primaluna Evo 400 with my solid state amps, great combo!

if you can do without balanced. Connects the Evo 300 is your best option, I wanted the balanced so opted for the 400 model.  Gorgeous, built very well, weighs over 55 lbs, sounds very smooth. 

Go for the schiit.  It has a feature that allows you to go back-and-forth between solid state and tube. It's controlled by remote. It's got a great sound.

It looks really cool.  It's well-made. And you can't beat the price.

Left field but pairing UK SS with a classic but brilliant hand made UK EAR Yoshino 864L or even an 868L two Tim De Pavaracini designs that are beautiful to look at having an output impedance of 100 ohms. It has several fully balanced XLR inputs and outputs via couple of stereo line RCA’s or balanced XLR’s. It’s transformer coupled and uses Custom selected PCC88/7DJ8's otherwise known ECC88/6N8 and if you select the PL model you have a world class jumper configurable MM/MC Phono stage tube driven akso. It sounds brilliant paired with a meaty SS amp or equally at home in an all tube set up. They are not cheap but neither are they stupid money. I have the EAR912 having previously owned an 868PL so can vouch for its brilliant sonics and black background. They are also very heavy and built like battleships.

+1 LTA  MZ2 or Velo. Or they have a full preamp if you need more inputs. 

I would look at the PrimaLuna series of tube preamps. They are PrimaLuna EVO 100, EVO 200, EVO 300, and EVO 400.

(Make sure you look at the preamps and not the integrated models, as the naming is similar.)

They are built like tanks, sound very good/great value, and they are - if/when you get to that point - easy to tube roll with.

I have a BAT VK 52 SE tube pre amp and Elecrtocomponiet AW180 solid state mono blocks and they pair wonderfully. I'm considering class D (GAN) mono blocks at some point.