2. amps-preamps
  3. 142953-91258

What preamp creates the largest soundstage?

I have always loved a large soundstage.  I have a small listening room (10x10) and have mini-monitors, driven by a tube amp.  I have played a lot with speaker placement, room acoustics, listening position to create a large soundstage.  I have rolled tubes on the amp and made dramatic improvements. (I have purposely left details on the brands of tubes, amp and speakers out, because I don’t want side comments to distract from my question)

i have a digital source into a solid state naim preamp.  I home demo’ed a well reviewed preamp, and was surprised at how much the soundstage shrunk, both side to side and top downward.  It was deeper, and did have much of the tube magic, but I could not live without the big soundstage.  

so my question is, does anyone have experience with a preamp that produces a big soundstage?  I am looking for recommendations on what to demo next. While I lean toward tubes, I am open to solid state.  I am okay either new or used, and could spend in the 5k range, but would be happy to spend less.  Also comments on specific brands (i.e. xyz is known to have great soundstage in all their preamps) as opposed to models, are welcome.

and I will be the first to admit that perhaps the very large soundstage is not “accurate”to real music, but boy is it seductive and I love it and can’t live without it.

meiatflask

Showing 12 responses by meiatflask

meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
Audiojan- okay, the amp is the Primaluna HP in stereo mode, four EL34s per channel.   While I assume the matching Primaluna preamp would give good synergy, I have not heard that the Primaluna preamps are anything special.
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
Batman1971- Never heard of graaf.   I see they are an Italian company, but can’t tell much more.  Are they readily available in US?

phantom_av-  it has been years since I have listened to Atma-sphere.  I will check into them.  Per their website, the preamps do not appear to have a remote, which is important to me.

i have also been wondering how the old school tube companies- Conrad johnson and audio research, might do.  Been too long since I have listened to either of these....
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
Atmosphere- is the mp-3 balanced only for input and output? Can I use RCAs?
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
Kalali-  I think you make a lot of sense.  Once you have strong candidates, it is probably a “how” the soundstage is rendered.  And perhaps once one is willing to spend (what to me is) a reasonable amount of money, most of the candidates are pretty strong.   
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
Jtcf- I am big fan of the LTA in general, but that is the preamp I home demoed and the soundstage was disappointing, much smaller compared to my naim solid state.  Otherwise, I would have bought it, and would not be on this quest.  However, I did not roll the tubes.  Don’t know if I would have had the same opinion if I had time to try different tubes........  certainly rolling the 12au7s on my amp has made a huge difference.
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
Aolmrd1241-  are you using the Primaluna preamp with the HP or other Primaluna amp, or with something different?  And are there other preamps that you have tried in your system before you decided on the Primaluna?

i had not really considered the Primaluna preamp.  From this and my question to rollintube, I am wondering if I should reconsider it......
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
Rollintubes- I have my speakers in a near field set up, and have spend countless hours tweaking my room.   Sounds like you are in full agreement with me that getting the speaker and listener position optimized is the most important step.  And we have the same amp, (I am currently running KT77s & mullard NOS 12au7s), with tube selection having also made a big difference for me.   But I don’t want this to get into a tangent on tube rolling, as there are many other discussions on that subject.

but I have a question for you: have you tried other preamps beside the Primaluna?
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
Atmasphere- 5k out the door is a hard stop.
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
Atmasphere-  line stage, phono not needed, must have remote.
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
OP here.  Just reviewing al, the comments and what catches me is there are no solid state preamps being suggested.  Does not surprise me that tubes dominate the conversation, but kind of expected to see one or two solid state units in the mix.....
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
Audiomaze- I could not agree more.  If the recording was not miked to give a great soundstage, you will never hear it in your system.  I have many recordings with gorgeous soundstage that I keep coming back to.  

But, given a great recording, still near the right gear to make it shine.
meiatflask OP
156 posts
 
OP here - thanks everyone for all the input.  I now have a handful of candidates and brands to look into.  I am heading south for the rest of the winter, and will continue the pursuit when I get back in the Spring.  (No music in the rental place)

I’ll continue to peek in on this thread, but won’t be taking an active roll.  So feel free to continue posting, but for me, it’s time to say thank you.

Bill

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