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I posted on the amplification board, but seem to be getting responses mostly from PP folks.
I currently have a deHavilland UV-3 and it works surprisingly well for the price.
The Fi b2 line stage seems to be an obvious choice. I'm also thinking about an AN (UK) M-3 and upgrading to an M-5 over time and maybe one of the Supratek models, if they are really still in business. Blue Circle is also a possibility. I've only heard the M-3 amd M-5.
I'm looking for something without any vestage of a "vintage" tube sound.
Any others to add to the list in this price range (around $7-8K)? Fi owners? I could go custom, but most of the nice custom preamps I see cost more.
Thanks.
"You don't need to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Follow Ups:
There is a huge thread on DIY Audio called "26 pre amp" in which several builders including myself have been endlessly refining how to build the perfect 26 preamp. Since the 26 is about the best preamp tube ever made, I would seriously consider a 26 project. You are unlikely to get better at any price. The designs are very simple and can be built by anyone proficient in building with tubes, but require absolutely top quality components and a sophisticated DC supply - there are ready built boards available from Rod Coleman for this. There is a steadily increasing number of us who see this as pretty much the final preamp - it's not clear where to go from here.
The 26 is to preamps what the 300b, 45 and 2A3 are to output tubes.
Andy
Andy,
That thread is 150 pages and > 1700 posts. Would you be willing to give the Cliff Notes version here? Maybe just the latest schematic and a few words about it.
Sure - here's my own schematic. Only hand draw, I'm afraid but hopefully legible. Rod Coleman sells the filament supplies. You can use a Hammond choke on the filament supply instead of the bigger ones I happened to have.
Andy
Just a few comments on the 26 preamp - the Hammonds 156Cs are a tried and tested plate choke option - not the ultimate but very good. However, they are prone to hum and must be kept away from any magnetic fields - in particular the filament supply chokes which should be as much as a metre away in a separate box. I use 3 boxes - filament supply, PSU and preamp. The cathode resistors are wirewound surplus Dale - quality is critical. Must be 50 watts - they get hot. I use 10 watters in a series/parallel arrangement and mount them on the top of the chassis. 26s can sound a little better in starved filament, but this alters all the voltages with filament bias. I have also used glow tubes, and others use Salas shunt regulators - it's all in the DIY thread. There are lots of other details and circuit options - many use Lundahl LL1660/5mA in 4.5:1 stepdown for instance. If you build a 26 preamp I do urge reading the thread.
andy
Andy,
Thanks very much for sharing this design with us. I know that its apparent simplicity is a result of many hours of listening and experimenting: a tremendous amount of work. I have several 26s in my tube collection and eventually I will get around to replacing my 76/6P5/37 front end (I don't use a preamp) with a 26 to see what all the fuss is about.
Thanks again,
Sandy
I'm using a Hovland Hp100 with my Fi2A3 Mono's, the sound is very detailed,and the sound staging is great,I want to try one of Don's new preamps soon but I'm pretty sure the Hovland i'll keep no matter what the outcome.
...you should definitely audition the Cary SLP-05. If you're running single-ended, only 4 of the 8 stock 6SN7s (EH) need to be swapped out for your favorite NOS goodies.
"Your liver suffers dearly now for youthful magic moments...so rock on completely with some brand new components"
I´ve tested several pramplifiers with my Fi amps (X 2A3 and WE421A) and so far the best was always a Fi pre (Y and classic)
I would not recommend any audio note pre with Fi amplifiers, I don´t know why, but the sound was dull
However, Fi preamplifiers make their amps shine
just my 2 cents ...
__
I am from Galicia so, when you meet me in the staircase, you won´t know whether I´ll go up or down ...
Nt
"You don't need to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Don's Evolution pre is less costly than the 2b(by far) and is seriously good. Not the least bit colored and can be improved with a little tube rolling.
Does one really need to have that power supply for a linestage or does it mostly benefit the phonstage?
I'm sure Telefunken E188CCs would sound good. But finding them is not easy or cheap.
"You don't need to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
I use the Evolution with Amperex bugle boy types from Andy at Vintage tube services. I've had good luck with this pre amp with both the fi 2a3 mono's and a Quicksilver mid mono amp (rca 6L6's also from Andy).
I've also heard good things about Shindo pre's with fi and Tempo Electric.
Interesting, how do you like the evolution preamp? also have you gotten tubes from Andy lately? I had a hard time getting tubes from him last summer, he seemd to busy w/ other stuff....
Sorry I didn't see your post. I like the fi evolution pre a great deal. Andy takes time to get things together , but I've had very good luck with him.
Coincident Statement Linestage uses two 101d tubes(DHT) dual transformer volume control, no caps or resistor in the signal path(interstage transformer). It provides sublime sound, however it lacks remote(purist design) is a 2 box unit and weighs 73 pounds. Brilliant component.
A little high on gain, though. I was looking for something in the 8-12dB range.
"You don't need to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
The gain on the currentCoincident Statement is 10db(that`s what mine is). 20 db gain may be an option available on request.
I use a Emotive Erato with mind. Hard to find on the used market. You could get a Sira in your price range.
I am a bit put off by that.
"You don't need to be a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
The Sira sounds neutral, detailed, and musical (IMHO and others' as well),not "vintage" at all. Signal goes through 2 tubes per channel 1/2 of a 5687 and a 6186 as a CF. All the rest are are used for rectification, voltage regulations and CCS. Might not be your cup of tea,but hear one first, if you get a chance.
Epifania is more my speed. But I'd want 816's for rectifiers...maybe 866JR's.
cheers,
Douglas
Friend, I would not hurt thee for the world...but thou art standing where I am about to shoot.
In most of the instances where I heard the Sira in comparison to other linestages, the Sira sounded rich, but a bit muddy and lacking in clarity. The Epifania (I own one with Teflon capacitors), in contrast, is much more on the detailed, clear and leaner side (those who think "tube sound" should mean warm would find it on the analytical side).
Like the Sira, the multiple tubes of the Epifania are mainly for regulation. The signal for each channel passes through one 12B4 tube. That said, I hardly think it really matters how one gets to a particular result, so I don't think tube count matters at all. This linestage is rare, and perhaps pricey, even as a used item.
Larry,
Your listening impressions are quite similar to mine. I have been looking at using some other amplifier tubes in something resembling the Epifania circuit...all lingle triodes, for example the 6AH4 and with a current regulated filament, the 801A and perhaps the 45. I've parted with my 12B4 SE linesstage when I went balanced to run an active criss over...a second system will likely be SE driven as I don't epect to multi-amp.
cheers,
Douglas
Friend, I would not hurt thee for the world...but thou art standing where I am about to shoot.
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