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

Posted by Raiderman (A) on August 9, 2012 at 16:19:13

In Reply to: best true balanced tube pre amp under US$10,000 used posted by benno on August 9, 2012 at 10:59:20:

I would scratch the ARC Ref. 3 off your list, if you're looking for tube warmth.

It is a great tube preamp, IMHO, but having tube warmth is not one of its sonic characteristics. It is very neutral with an almost solid state sound, but with the holographic soundstaging that tubes can provide. (Excellent flat frequency response, with deep and tight bass, and a well extended treble.) It has lots of features and a nice remote control. (The Ref. 5 is slightly better, as it has slightly deeper bass response, but they are very much cut from the same cloth, and unless you have very deep pockets, the additional cost might not be worth it to you.)

You might want to check out some of the better Conrad Johnson preamps, like the ACT 2, if you're looking for some tube warmth.

Good Luck in your search.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

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)

Follow Ups

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

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