I can absolutely recommend the Don Sachs line preamp (6SN7 based). I purchased one just to give it a try and ended up selling my ARC-Ref-5SE and pocketing about $10k in the process. It's that good... in my system, your milage may vary. Innuous_Zen--> Holo_May_KTE_DAC--> Don_Sachs_Pre--> Coincident_Frankenstein_MK-III_300B_Monoblocks--> BD_Design_Oris_Horns
Tube preamp options
My system from the preamp on consists of a rouge rp-7, rogue m180 monoblocks, and vandersteen quatro wood speakers. My main source is a brinkmann Bardo through a Rogers PA-2 phono pre. It all sounds great. But there's that itch, you know? I get tremendous soundstage but not that much depth. Clarity is great, mids are nice, bass is excellent. But it doesn't quite have that in the room sound that I'm looking for. The RP7 sounded too solid state and analytical for me out of the box with the stock JJ tubes so I've done extensive rolling. Been through all sorts of NOS tubes and landed on amperex as they seem to have the best balance of warmth and clarity. My thought is, maybe I can find a pre that has those attributes out of the gate without all the rolling. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of being able to tailor the sound with trying different tubes but I feel like maybe there's a brand out there who's house sound I like better. I haven't listened to anything more yet but brands that are on the list to check out are Backert labs, maybe a used ARC Ref 6, VTL, VAC. There are a million little boutique brands tho and I'm asking what people have heard in the 10k price range, new or used, that might be a good fit for me and why.
Thanks!
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After ten years of delight in a majestic point to point wired, outboard dual mono p/s Croft preamplifier I tried a TVC. I was shocked by the in room presence of music and the space of recordings. If that's what you're after, try a different principle of design / operation; no AC power rushing through, no noisy --beautiful !-- valves, no capacitors, resistors or unnecessary wiring looms to sap your music of energy. My unit is from Audion and I warmly recommend it. Their website explains. There are numerous other manufacturers too. |
I have a pair of Rogue M120’s with a pair of Totem Forests. I have been using a Rogue Athena preamp and had some noise issues. So, I took a chance on the Magnum 99 and was quite impressed . I wouldn’t have thought that the less expensive preamp would give me what I was looking for. Wide and deep soundstage with plenty of air. This was just using Ruby 6550 tubes. Perhaps it is synergy? I dont know, but I can tell you I’m very satisfied (at the moment) with the sound I’m getting. I can’t say enough about the simplicity and sound of the 99. BTW, the noise issues I was experiencing were in house. |
@upnorthsound sgreed canary is almost never talked about here or for that matter in North America. This is likely one of the very best made in the world. I have the ca 801which is one model down I have head many if these early model canary preamplifier s they are all superb each one is a definite setup from the one lower.
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