Audio Research LS 26 or Cary SLP 05?


I am trying to expand my horizon for tube preamps. I am now deciding whether to go for an Audio Research LS 26, Cary SLP 05, or deHavilland Mercury?... I have no way to hear these preamps together.

I'll be using an Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono SS amp, Cambridge Audio 640v2 CDP, and the speakers are DIY Scanspeak 2.5 way (21W555/18W8545/9800).

Which preamp will produce the following characteristics?...
-Transparent and neutral tonality and timbre for acoustical instruments
-bass: powerful and deep
-mids: harmonically rich, clear, smooth, refined
-highs: extended & airy. WITHOUT glare. NOT rolled off.
-3D, spacious sound stage WITHOUT sacrificing focus
-big tone, lush sound
-high resolution with micro details without etching

Thanks!
88man

Showing 2 responses by homosapien

100% agree with Baggs1.
Both preamps are great and have distinctive "house" sound - you do not have to auditioned them A to B - they sound so differently. It is a matter of taste and the rest of the system. I got SLP-05 and very happy with it
You can not compare SLP-05 with SLP-98 - I had both in my room - they are just not in the same league.