Preamp for Bryston 3BST / Magnepan MG1.6QR

You can't go wrong with a Rogue 99M - it worked very well when I had a 4B-SST amp. You can find these in the $1100 range and while there are other choices it would be hard to beat at that price. ARC is also a great match according to many owners but I have not had one personally.

Check out the deHavilland Verve tube preamp. It can be found for less than a grand. This tube pre has amazing, warm detail. I personally use the deHavilland Ultraverve preamplifier with my Bryston 14Bsst with very nice results for my ears.

Your on the right track. You would be surprised at how good the current crop of tube pre sound; especially in comparison to the Bryston pre amps. You will have all the detail or more than the BP-20, plus you will get a 3-D soundstage and "warmth" that the Brystons can only hint at.

The TAD-150 seems like a winner as well as the newest little Rogue (be leary of 66 and 99). The Lector ZOE, athough hard to find is also excellent.

D morgan,

From your description (" very thin and cold midrange. I am looking for something fuller and warmer") you're the perfect candidate for a tubed preamp. In my experience, that's what tubes do: make most systems warmer and give that subtle midrange bloom. Some of the regular folks around here don't think words like "warm" or "bloom" should apply to good audiophile sound (they prefer accuracy over all else) but there are others who disagree and enjoy these qualities - who knows what accurate is on most recordings anyway?
There are plenty of good tubed preamps out there that don't sacrifice detailed resolution to achieve this (deHavilland, CJ, ARC, Rogue,BAT, Modwright, VTL, Cary, are just a few). I'd see if your local dealers would let you audition some at home or search the archived discussions here - just type in Bryston 3bst.

Ratbone, any particular reasons I should stay away from the Rogue 66 and 99? I have read more than one review with systems having Bryston amps and Rogue preamps.