If I were going for an active preamp, I would look into the Thomas Mayer 10Y.
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(I am in humanely affordable range only.... in no specific order) HOT: Shindo, Lamm (except LL2), Jadis (except the entry level ones), Viva Audio, Wavac (except MD-811), Allnic (L-3000 and above), VAC (Statement), Boulder, Sonic Frontiers (Line 3 SE only), top model McIntosh (tube ones), Burmester (except the Rondo / Concerto line) NOT: BAT (Solid State ones), VAC (mid-level or below), VTL, Manley, Mark Levinson, ModWright, Counterpoint (including the NP), any entry to mid level CJ and ARC (regardless of tube or SS), Audio Note (entry to mid level) |
Given my passion in tube based Preamps, I've observed we get consistently good reports by respected contributors here that Ear, Shindo, Allnic, Backert, Vac, VTL, Aethetix, Hovland, and ARC are terrific choices. Personally I’ve got a soft spot for 6SN7 based Preamps because the relative abundance of good tubes with a wide sonic palate that offer great tube rolling possibility for system tuning - names like like deHavilland, Atmo-Sphere, Wyeteck, Supratek, MFA Lumi, ASL Flora, Sachs and TRL Dude come to mind. I find there is a little more meat on the bones on these octal tubes. Tung Sol, RCA, and Sylvania are solid choices. By reputation they should be great music makers and can be had used for <10k all the way down to 1.5k. As usually it about synergy and the listeners own listening priorities. |
If the Saga sounds this good, I can’t imagine what the Freya sounds like. I really can’t say how the Schiit Audio pre’s compare with the high end, but I can say that the Saga easily bests my mid-fi Parasound P-5, and costs 1/3 the price. More top end detail, lower noise floor and a soundstage that is immersive. I do have excellent speakers, Totem Hawks, and solid core based cabling from Audioquest, but I’ve simply never had it this good. |
The Schiit Freya...A remote, a 128 step relay switched very accurate attenuator, three choices of remote selectable passive, FET, or tube output through 4 6SN7GTBs, fully balanced operation, five remote selectable inputs including two balanced and three single ended, three outputs including one balanced and two single ended, and excellent low noise floor sound that I enjoy immensely. It's USA built and costs around 700 bucks, supported by geniuses who may or may not be gentlemen, but are more like curmudgeonly rebellious marketplace disturbers. |
Obviously, some brands are mentioned more frequently because that company produces a lot of units. That having been said, of the brands I've owned, Audio Research is one the best I personally have heard. When the ARC Reference 3 line-stage entered my system, my (audio) world changed. All the music I thought I knew (and I was already using a more affordable ARC line stage), had to be listened to again. In all the years it's been in my system, I've never had the urge to "upgrade." The complete satisfaction continues....... |
Halgorythme made by a French music lover: http://www.halgorythme.com/preamplificateur_ligne_cv1816sn7.html http://www.halgorythme.com/index.html |
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I prefer tube preamps, and also believe in synergy with the related amp. I have had excellent experience with matched Audio Research and now have a McIntosh tube pre as well as mono block amps. I like to say that XYZ component is always compatible with itself. My first matched equipment was Sansui 50 years ago. Integrated amp, speakers and tuner. Nice aound cor the rime and the budget. |
Jond mentioned the Aldo preamp from Deja Vu Audio (in Tyson's Corner Virginia). These are custom built to fit whatever particular need you have. Mine is built with remotely controlled volume and two Daven pots for balance control. It also is fully transformer coupled (has output transformers) so it can only be used with suitable amplifiers (I use an Aldo-built amp with compatible input transformers, it will also work with my Audio Note Kageki amplifiers). This is quite a good sounding preamp. I own two other linestage/preamps--an Emotive Audio Epifania tube linestage and a solid state Levinson No. 32 preamp. I have heard, and also like, Audio Note preamps, but, the lack of remote control for volume is a deal killer for me. The same goes with the terrific sounding Kondo linestages. Although I have less experience with other linestages and preamps than those mentioned above, I have heard decent systems that included the Veloce battery-powered tube linestage, and Atmasphere linestages. In the solid state realm, the only linestage that sounded truly great to me was the Lyra Connoisseur (I heard the linestage and phono preamp together). |
