Warm, yet detailed tube preamp

A Conrad Johnson Premier 17LS fitted with Gold Lion tubes will please you.

I saw some Backert Lab preamp recommendation and I also highly recommend the Backert preamp if you are looking for a "neutral" sound.

But OP is looking for a "warm" sound, which the Backert is not.

For more detail, neutral midrange, vintage 6SN7 Sylvania GT work okay

Having tried several different pairs of interconnects...each provided different results as well.

@audiojan

Warmth to me is more "meat on the bones" in the midrange. It’s not the low-end.

 

@decooney,

In my LTA Microzotl MZ3 I have (2) 6SN7 Sylvania GT and or 6SN7 Sylvania W with both tubes being ’metal base’ are quite special with the Micrzotl circuit. And in the 12AT7 position I have (2) Telefunken ECC801S /12AT7WA’s. and the synergy is again, fantastic.

My interconnects are 聖Hijiri HCI-R10 and the synergy is outstanding with this preamp and tubes. The LTA Microzotl MZ3 with these additions provide open, detailed, airy, holographic, quiet background and a wide sound stage with an uncanny overall balance in the sound it puts out. The ’openness’ I hear with this combination is what I’d define as exactly what @audiojan described above as ’meat on the bones’ midrange.

Now there’s one more thing I have to mention. I snagged @grannyring’s old Clayton Audio modified S-40 amplifier that came up for sale some months ago and it was a perfect synergistic match with my gear. I couldn’t be more happier with the results.

So @grannyring, if you read this, Thank you very much for what you do and share here on audiogon.

Surprised at no mention of Modwright yet. I have the Modwright LS300 (dual mono balanced) and the choice of rectifiers and 9-pin tubes allows a lot of tuning to get to warm or "meat on the bones" if that is what you want. The new LS99 is a scaled down version, with a single rectifier tube, but the same general topology, so I'd expect similar results. I'm very happy with mine, great sounding (yes, detailed/transparent), terrific remote, just a very solid unit, with great support.

The Don Sachs preamp is just the VTA SP14 in a prettier enclosure.  The SP14, preassembled and tested, with remote control, is $1900 new.  $1450 as a kit.