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I am looking for a preference on the following tube pre amps.Mcintosh 220
Cary SLP 03
Aesthetix Calypso.My preference is for smooth non fatiguing versus analytical.
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!!!
Edits: 12/05/14Follow Ups:
I'm a little confused - you originally asked about ~$2500 used ($4000 new) tube pres and then said a Parasound P5 which is a new $1000 SS pre.I had a C220 and it was very musical, built like a battleship, and responded nicely to tube swaps. To me, it was a little less resolving than I wanted but still smooth (maybe not smooth enough for you though). I put in some higher res tubes and a silver fuse which brought it up resolution-wise to where I really enjoyed it. I had to sell it for financial reasons, but lately was able to purchase a factory-refreshed Parasound P 7 for $1500 with full warranty. It is SS, high resolution, and has all the remote control features of the C220 and then some (well, it doesn't have a mono switch, which would be nice, nor the excellent tube phono section). I like it better.
Seems like the Cary -05 might be a better choice for you if you can find one in your price range.
Edits: 12/23/14
I heard a pair of KEF blades on Prima Luna electronics. They were horrible. I heard the blades once prior to that on Ayre. They were great with Ayre. Im not sure if there was a speaker problem or an electronics problem but on the prima luna they were flat, hollow, and sounded out of phase. KEF knew it too. They were scurrying around the show trying to find different sources to drive them with. I hate to judge based on one experience. How does the Prima Luna fit in with this group?
Edits: 12/22/14
Good advice- when I demo gear or speakers, I demo several times w/ different set-ups. Cables/powers cords included.
and have never been tempted to upgrade. I have no experience with the other brands you mention, but from the description of the qualities you are looking for, I doubt you will go wrong with Cary. Consider the SLP series, however.
"My preference is for smooth non fatiguing versus analytical"
The Cary 05 and 98 models use 6SN7GT tubes which are famous for the sound you say you are looking for. The Cary 05 model is clearly their flagship preamp and a great piece of gear. I have the SLP-98P which is more affordable but also a well designed piece, which has been in their lineup about 15 years for good reason.
I've swapped the original tubes with some great NOS alternatives on mine. This has improved transparency, imaging, and bass. It raised the bar in the direction of the sound of the admittedly better 05 model. I can only imagine the sound of the 05 model with NOS tubes.
If I were looking into any of these brands I would seriously look into the Cary Integrated tube amp.
Separates - ah - ya gonna start to get into a lotta mixing and matching problem!!!
One box, no impedance matching headaches, no interconnect issues, sweet and simple. For that kind of money why give yourself a headache. Get yourself some good speakers and source and you're set for life.
Just been there.
charles
I'll assume you meant Cary SLP05. The 03 is not in the same class.
Opinions are nice, but you really need to sit down and audition. You are asking about 3 very different animals here.
Dan Santoni
No, I meant the 03. The 03 and the Mcintosh are closest price wise. The Aesthetix is a bit more but Im seeing them used for $2500. Im a bit scared of some of the noise issues Ive been reading about with the Aesthetix.
The Calypso is not that noisy, but you need to hear to see if it is going to be for you.
The SLP03 is not in the same league sound wise though (not listed on Cary's website any longer).
Dan Santoni
Im glad I posted this as the SLP 03 seemed to be the bargain of the bunch. I was leaning towards it for that reason. I did not realize it was such a troubled piece.
I bought an SLP-03 that I kept for a couple days and returned it to the local seller who took it back. It had a number of intermittent quirks with the remote control and front panel controls that rendered it nearly useless. The seller gave me back my money and sent the SLP-03 back to Cary for repairs.
While I did manage to get it to work long enough to hear it, it was indeed not in the same class as the Aesthetix Calypso or the Cary SLP-05. I owned both.
The Calypso was not noisy from my listening chair but I could hear a faint hiss with my ear up to the speaker tweeter. I would guess that the noise could be more of a concern for people running very sensitive speakers. It was not an issue at all for me in my setup. I liked the Calypso a lot.
The Cary SLP-05 was my all time favorite tube linestage. The less expensive Cary SLP-98 might be worth considering. A lot people have them and they're well regarded. The SLP-03, not so much.
Pretty much agree with everything you said Abe.
The SLP-03 was a troublesome product from the get go. It's also not pure tube. It's a hybrid.
The SLP05 though is in a different class. The 98 is also quite good, and excellent value for the money.
Dan Santoni
I suggest (2) that can get you started;
Cary SLP 05
Aesthetix Calypso Signature
Tell me about the rest of your gear in your system, including cables/cords.
I have read a few comments that the Aesthetix is not engineered properly. The result is excessive noise when certain tubes are used. Aesthetix now only recommends certain tubes for the unit? Has anyone experienced this?
I'd like to read what else the idiots have to say.
well, not to spoil the party, what does "well engineered" mean? it's one thing to have heard a preamp or whatever at a show or a in a friend's system, but what mantle of authority gives one the power to decide a unit is "well engineered" or not well engineered? plenty of very opinionated "engineers" post here, and have wildly controversial opinions. sorry, i don't buy it. if it sounds good to you, there you go -- somehow or other the piece is designed and executed to get you there, in your room and with your other gear, but identifying it as "well engineered" is, in my view, meaningless.
Agreed...and synergy is a big factor too. Don't think you can just pop an expensive pre in a system and achieve Nirvana. I'll get flamed for this but I found that a pre from the same manufacturer as the amp is oftem the better choice.
Excellent point, SETdude. Do not forget those cables/power cords as well.
Of course Storm is simply recalling a comment. To that, is one looking for a tool to roll tubes or a preamplifier designed for maximum performance around a specific set of tubes?
Lets not forget one of the most popular for the money preamps. The Audible Illusions M3A gained a reputation for destroying some rolled tubes and it still seems popular to some. Even though I disliked most of the other aspects of the AI design/support, I did enjoyed their presentation (for the money) with the original tubes. In my case the tubes outlasted the attenuators. Learning later that the AI was an economically scaled down Bruce Moore design of the Companion preamplifier.
Too many armchair engineers. Don't believe everything you read.
Dan Santoni
IMHO
Agree with your two choices and would add the Lamm LL2 Deluxe - the first edition should be in the OP's price range.
LAMM is on my short-list as well.
I had not spent any time w/ the Mac gear- I cannot offer an opinion there.
Goldenear Aon3. Audioquest interconnects and speaker cables. 2 channel computer room. Will retain the ID12 powered sub. The Anthem will likely stay as the amp for a while. I really like the Parasound P5 but Im leaning towards tubes for the pre amp.
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