best true balanced tube pre amp under US$10,000 used

89.124.212.55

Posted by benno on August 9, 2012 at 10:59:20

I am looking for a secondhand/ex demo tube preamp for a Gamut D200i which is a Danish manufactured solid state power amp which works optimally using its balanced inputs. The Gamut has adjustable gain and is rated at 240 watts into 8 ohms. It has a matching solid state preamp, the D3i but as the old adage goes I would like to "inject some tube warmth into my system". I use a Resolution Audio Cantata source and Sonus Faber Cremona Floorstanders(pre M series). I will be ultimately looking at a vinyl source once I get the funds together! As I am based in Ireland there is limited opportunity to demo gear. Accordingly, I would welcome readers comments/recommendations. The preamp must be tube and truly fully balanced. A phono stage is not necessary. There are some worthy contenders out there but they are not true balanced. Those I have been reading about/considering and which appear meet my requirements/buget are as follows:
cary slp 05
nat symmetrical
blue circle BC3000 mark 2 Gpz
bat vk 51 or 52 se(rex better but probably too recent and expensive)
arc reference 3
ear 912
audio note m5
aesthetix callisto signature mark2

Thanks very much in anticipation.

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Topic - best true balanced tube pre amp under US$10,000 used - benno 10:59:20 08/09/12 (22)

RE: best true balanced tube pre amp under US$10,000 used - tmsorosk 05:08:12 08/16/12 (0)

VAC - Bill Musgrave 18:56:23 08/15/12 (0)

BAT! - trcnetmsncom 10:11:47 08/11/12 (0)

The BC isn't especially "tuby" - Frihed89 11:38:01 08/10/12 (2)

RE: The BC isn't especially "tuby" - bjh 11:58:34 08/10/12 (1)

Your right. My mistake. nt - Frihed89 12:07:17 08/10/12 (0)

Atma Sphere MP1 or 3 - MVA 08:08:40 08/10/12 (2)

I love these pre-amps - johntoste 12:02:44 08/10/12 (1)

RE: I love these pre-amps - Mike Mount 04:39:49 08/16/12 (0)

RE: best true balanced tube pre amp under US$10,000 used - Raiderman 16:19:13 08/09/12 (2)

RE: C-J doesn't do balanced nt - Sunya 16:42:50 08/09/12 (1)

Good Point. I forgot about that. -nt - Raiderman 08:24:10 08/10/12 (0)

RE: best true balanced tube pre amp under US$10,000 used - Sunya 13:38:10 08/09/12 (9)

RE: best true balanced tube pre amp under US$10,000 used - JimOfOakCreek 15:24:48 08/09/12 (8)

Sorry, but - E-Stat 09:07:06 08/11/12 (4)

RE: Sorry, but - JimOfOakCreek 08:18:56 08/12/12 (3)

And, therefore - E-Stat 11:32:51 08/12/12 (2)

Krell S300i Uses Op Amps??....Well yes it does! - JimOfOakCreek 16:05:41 08/26/12 (1)

Nor would I - E-Stat 16:43:49 08/26/12 (0)

That's Incredible!! But I like the Cary in this case. - Mechans 07:54:57 08/10/12 (2)

Yes, Cary....... - AbeCollins 09:56:19 08/10/12 (1)

RE: Yes, Cary....... - benno 10:35:38 08/10/12 (0)

best true balanced tube pre amp under US$10,000 used

89.124.212.55

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