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Looking 4 tubed line preamps up to $1500 range. Suggestions?

76.189.19.19
Posted on November 7, 2009 at 13:03:06
6 Meters DX
 I'm looking for a good tubed line preamp (up to $1500) to be paired with my Magnepan MG12QR's, McIntosh MC162, powered sub, and CDP/HDCD/SACD source. Time to get rid of my lowly Parasound P/HP-850 as the 'weakest link' in the chain. I've been told the singlemost improvement (if you like tubed sonics... and I do) I can make to my 2-channel system is getting rid of my inexpensive 'mid-fi' solid state 'bargain preamp' (the Parasound cost me around $300 new a few years ago) and getting a higher-end tubed preamp. The preamp must have 2 outputs so I can also hook up my powered sub. Any suggestions?

So far, Mr. Google found me these to consider:

* Rogue 'Metis'
* Odyssey 'Candela'
* Vincent SA-31
* Vincent SA-31MK

Are there any others I should consider that I may have missed?

thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU in advance!
Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid, posted on November 16, 2009 at 08:30:59
morricab
Dealer

Posts: 4459
Location: switzerland
Joined: April 1, 2005
 Very good and only $600 for the kit.

What about the Little Dot MKVI preamp?, posted on November 10, 2009 at 15:04:47
6 Meters DX
 This one looks incredible! Has anyone used this as a preamp? Looks like a 'giant killer'!

Would love to read reviews on it!

You should check out the Doge 8, posted on November 10, 2009 at 10:40:13
Doc Sarvis
Audiophile

Posts: 390
Location: Utah
Joined: December 23, 2003
 I have heard nothing but extremely good things about it, although information is hard to come by. I just pulled the trigger on one myself but it has not yet arrived. Two recently sold/are selling very quickly on Audiogon.

http://www.pacificvalve.us/Doge8.html
How are Y-S Audio products?, posted on November 9, 2009 at 21:24:42
6 Meters DX
 How about Y-S Audio products? Are they any good? They seem like a steal at their low price.

RE: How are Y-S Audio products?, posted on November 10, 2009 at 10:43:16
Doc Sarvis
Audiophile

Posts: 390
Location: Utah
Joined: December 23, 2003
 I owned one of the simple "symphonies" preamps back when they were selling for $300 on Ebay (maybe they still are for all I know). It shipped directly from Hong Kong. I remember it sounding very nice actually, but that was a long time ago. I used it with a SS Rotel power amp.

RE: Looking 4 tubed line preamps up to $1500 range. Suggestions?, posted on November 9, 2009 at 16:54:46
kjoday
Audiophile

Posts: 1
Location: Pennsylvania
Joined: November 9, 2009
 Prima Luna makes a great preamp for $1500, I have one and recently rolled tubes after hooking up a dac to add some depth to cds. Sounds great, the amp and cd are rotel driving Mirage OM7s. Will be upgrading amp, cd and speakers soon but will keep the Prima Luna.
Gman
RE: Looking 4 tubed line preamps up to $1500 range. Suggestions?, posted on November 8, 2009 at 19:50:48
stereo5
Audiophile

Posts: 113
Joined: June 22, 2008
 There is a newly posted Audible Illusions L1 tube linestage preamp which is essentially a Modulus 3 without the phono section on Audiogon for 750.00
"You lock the door and throw away the key, there's someone in my head but it's not me"
RE: Looking 4 tubed line preamps up to $1500 range. Suggestions?, posted on November 7, 2009 at 16:42:10
KT88
Dealer

Posts: 4830
Location: Roanoke VA
Joined: October 5, 2001
 The Rogue Audio Metis is a great value. Linestage, phonostage, headphone amp, remote volume, tubes, USA design and build. The sound and build quality are both excellent and above the standard for the price.
-Bill

You're definitely on the right track......., posted on November 7, 2009 at 15:28:45
Marc Bratton
Audiophile

Posts: 4582
Joined: June 15, 2000
 I also have 12's, powered by Odyssey Stratos monoblocs. IMO, Maggies NEED
tubes somewhere in the signal chain, and since they're such current hogs, better to have a tubed preamp, and a smooth sounding muscular SS amp to drive 'em.
First, let me say any one of the preamps on your list would probably be fine. But why do you have to have a four tube linestage? Why not 2, or 3, or 6?
2nd, an older full function tube preamp can really fill the bill well for less money....you don't HAVE to use the phono stage (though I heartily encourage you). Look at an Audio Research SP8, a Music Reference RM5, a Conrad Johnson PV5,8,9,10,11,or 12 or (my fave) a Quicksilver full function preamp.

RE: CJ's, posted on November 9, 2009 at 12:26:18
fredtr
Audiophile

Posts: 162
Location: Phoenix
Joined: January 4, 2005
 If you are considering the CJ's listed, suggest you listen to one first.

RE: You're definitely on the right track......., posted on November 7, 2009 at 19:21:45
Diode
Audiophile

Posts: 310
Location: SE Wis
Joined: September 11, 2005
 ""But why do you have to have a four tube linestage? Why not 2, or 3, or 6?""

I think what the poster means is that he is considering four preamps (the ones listed in his post) and would like to know which of the four would best fit his needs.

Heh...thanks Diode. The '4' threw me.......:), posted on November 8, 2009 at 21:09:13
Marc Bratton
Audiophile

Posts: 4582
Joined: June 15, 2000
 They don't call me "Nostradumbass" for nothing!

Look on Audiogon, posted on November 8, 2009 at 02:18:08
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 8445
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 There are better tube preamps selling over there, used, for under $1500. You need to be careful that you don't end up with a preamp that has too much gain for your amp...or too little. It also is important to have the input impedance of your 10X (or greater) the output impedance of your preamp.
"What did the Romans ever do for us?"

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