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Vote for the Best Preamp: Audion, Jadis, ARC or CJ

Dear all

I would like to have your opinion on these tube preamps. Which one would you get for you? Again, my power amp is the Plinius SA-102 (and I do not need a phono section).

1. Audion 0.5 (new)/Audion Premier Line (new). Audion became famous for their outstanding Premier Quattro preamp. Now they are manufacturing a friendly priced line preamp: the 0.5 (I can get it for a very good price) that meanwhile was replaced by the Premier Line (nice price also). I am quite curious about these.

2. Jadis DPL2 (new). Jadis has a very good reputation among audiophiles. This Jadis preamp is less expensive than usual. But I found no on-line information (reviews, threads, etc.).

3. Audio Research LS8 (used, 1997)/Audio Research LS7 (used, 1998). Lots of people feel that classic ARC preamps are still the way to go for. And also that they match pretty weel Plinius power amps. I can get one of these two for a fair price as well.

4. Conrad Johnson PV10A (used, 1997). Some like it. Some don't.

At this point, I feel that Audion or Jadis (either new) are the best choices. Are they? Tell me ALL about it. Thanks.

Best,
Tejo
tejo5a2c
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
2nd the vote for a CAT pre.
It is simply superb from my personal experience.
Probably much more expensive than the ones you listed except the Jadis maybe & perhaps out of your budget(?)
tweak1
3,563 posts
 
Most tube preamps will not match the bandwidth of the Krell. Tube pres primarily gained popularity because of CD 101. Those days are long gone. Get a SS pre (BVaudio, PS Audio) and a tube CD player, like the Xindak SCD-2. Your Krell will then be able to strut its stuff to the max.
tubesrule's avatar
tubesrule
100 posts
 
Tweak1- what did you mean (14 years ago by CD 101), and is your answer even more relevant now?
tobes's avatar
tobes
436 posts
 
Geez a 14yr old thread?
'CD 101' is likely a reference to the first CD player, the Sony CD101. The inference is that tube preamps became popular to make early digital more listenable.
Not necessarily agreeing, but there was increasing presence of tube gear over the ensuing decades from the early '80's. Coincidence?
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