Which used tubed pre-amp & turntable for convert?


I am seriously considering going back to vinyl. Not happy with the system I have assembled:
Wadia 6 cd
Threshold T2 pre
Threshold T200 amp
Aerial 7B speakers
This combination sounds way too brite for my tastes. As the volume goes up it only gets worse. Everybody I have talked to or written to has suggested getting a tubed pre-amp. I also find myself wanting to try analog again (people who write about analog all sound so satisfied/fanatical even about their sound and I'm wondering if I am over digital). I listen to mostly rock (lots available on vinyl!). If I remove the T2 from my system, which used tubed preamp, phono stage and turntable would be good combination with the above? Phono stage could be in the pre-amp or seperate. Budget is $3000 to $4000. Where should most of the money go in this aquisition? I need some suggestions bad-my ears are bleeding!!!!
nomad

Showing 1 response by nomad

I'd like to thank you all for the responses. Rsfphil & Sean both mentioned what was originally my upgrade path. The system as it stands is just too revealing. I was planning to replace the Wadia 6 with a more musical cd player. It is the oldest piece of equipment I have (8 years old). And a cd player is where more changes/advances have occured. But the Wadia 6 already seems to be remarkable at resolving detail (20 bit 32times oversample). At first I ran the Wadia direct utilizing it's digital volume control. It can be engaging. But really too immediate or in your face. So I saved for months and then added the T2 (your basic trial and error route) Thought it would be a good match for the T200-made by same company. Its addition toned down the forwardness and gave me a discernable soundstage. Depth I did not have before. It is a good pre-amp. Many redbook CDs still seemed too bright though. So I tried to address the bad recordings by replacing domestic CDs with Japanese pressed CDs, a few MFSL CDs but mostly recent limited edition Japanese remastered CDs (ones done in the last 3 years). My logic being "more recent remasters would be using the most modern techniques and equipment". Some are HDCD some 20bit K2. Definately more detail but some of these are too bright, MFSL seems to be more musical. So I get a little closer to ANALOG.

...44,000+ ones and zeros every second sampling from the smooth curved sine wave of the original analog recording and I am getting closer...

Just thought I would try another direction. Years ago I was happy with vinyl (and my mass produced gear). Perhaps I should I just try a turntable and a seperate phono stage.
Jeff