Balanced Line Stage Tube Preamps
A recent balanced tube preamp shopper asked for opinions on Rogue vs ARC, ending up with a strong verdict for the Cary -05. Just wondering where the PrimaLuna EVO 400 might fit in this discussion. Functionality is pretty much identical across the board for all: 2 XLRs, 3 RCAs in, and both out. I don't need Cary's headphone section but do really need a remote. Question is all about the sonics. Fellow tube sound fans say Rogue is too dry and clinical. But what about PL? I wouldn't expect it to match Cary or ARC (or C-J) in an ideal room, but is it more tube-y than Rogue? (I do need 2 XLR and 3 RCA, so less versatile candidates need not apply).
All reviews I have read of the MP-3 says you DON"T offer silver or remotes! A recent development? The other limitation is lack of RCA inputs, @hickamore Silver has been available for about 10 years or so. The remote probably about 6-7 years. The preamp is equipped with two RCA inputs (Monitor 1 and Monitor 2) for a total of five inputs. |
@hickamore ARC has never supported AES48. So that means to get the most out of them you have to audition cables and be careful about ground loops. This isn't any different from using a single-ended preamp. I'm not sure of the Rogue, but it appears to have single-ended outputs in tandem with the balanced outputs and there's no switch involved so this suggests that it does not support the standard either. In both cases this says nothing about the 'sound' of the preamp, just that you have to be careful about cables and ground loops, neither of which should be a thing with balance operation. FWIW remote and silver front panels are available for our MP-3. |
@hickamore The Backert achieves its balanced line operation by the use of an output transformer. If you are going to use tubes to drive a balanced line, to my knowledge there are only two ways: an output transformer or a direct-coupled technique patented a little over 20 years ago. |
If you are looking at a balanced line tube preamp, its helpful to ask if the preamp supports AES48. If the manufacturer does not know, that likely means 'no'. One advantage of going balanced (properly) is that you no longer have to buy expensive cables to make it sound right. The cables will all sound the same and no going back to single ended. |
