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In Reply to: RE: Finding Reputable modifiers for HCA-2 posted by AbeCollins on July 17, 2016 at 21:46:44
I would agree if you want to add warmth the tube preamp is a wonderful suggestion. Once you start modding those amps it's a long dark road with few rewards in a potential to a trashed amp.
I have the Conrad Johnson classic 2SE. It isn't a warm and fuzzy preamp but it IS a very clean clear sound that really did take out that "edge" people often mention with SS gear.
One option is also a McIntosh preamp. I was NEVER a big fan of their amps. but they seem to make a great preamp that is actually very "tube like" in sound. I've always liked their preamps very much. Very laid back gentle sound like tubes but CLEARLY not a rolled off or low dynamic sound. What or how they do it?????????????? but it works.
Follow Ups:
Unfortunately, they're no longer available. Their break in time was varied and sometimes quite long. Mine responded greatly to my homes rewiring including the dedicated audio and HT circuits, and NuForce speaker cable.
I've been using them for years as well as the Black Gates. Actually truth be told I like them better than the Black Gates. So much so I gave my stash away.I don't have the updated chart but go to Mouser's site and look them up. They now have a few new Audio Grade caps that are REALLY wonderful!!!!
They have come a LONG way with electrolytic caps and sound quality.
charles
Edits: 07/19/16
Interesting. I have no experience with McIntosh preamps and only a few older CJ units.
I do like my CJ very much and would highly recommend it to the OP as an option. However it is not a warm and fuzzy like you would expect from a tube preamp. But I do like it very much.
I've had a number of McIntosh preamps and I also liked them very much. They maintained detail with the nice touch of warmth. Would I take a gamble and drop $5k on one now - ah not unless I win a lottery.
Although I do wish I had one or two of them now to compare. You know how you can remember things more fondly then they really were.
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