My still-good friend and I were in the high-end-audio business in the early- to mid-'80s, and he knew LOTS more than I about these things. Here's what he said:
"If hes looking for a preamp with a vacuum-tube signature, then the SP-10 is his best bet. That said, the actual sound qualitys very much tube-dependent and as I recall, they require replacement at fairly short intervals. (As an aside, the low-level tubes came from ARC with rubber damping rings installed, an idea that the SP-10s designer, Jack whatever-his-name-is, borrowed from me after a long discussion we had about various methods to address the microphonic qualities of tubes when he called TJA late one afternoon to buy some capacitors because ARCs usual supplier had run out )."
Based on all comments so far, the SP-10 is definitely your best choice. Also, you may be in serious pursuit of NOS or premium current-production tubes if you buy one. Looking here http://www.arcdb.ws/SP10/SP10.html , the -10's fono section has SEVENTY-TWO dB of gain, plenty enough for that Rosewood Signature.
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"If hes looking for a preamp with a vacuum-tube signature, then the SP-10 is his best bet. That said, the actual sound qualitys very much tube-dependent and as I recall, they require replacement at fairly short intervals. (As an aside, the low-level tubes came from ARC with rubber damping rings installed, an idea that the SP-10s designer, Jack whatever-his-name-is, borrowed from me after a long discussion we had about various methods to address the microphonic qualities of tubes when he called TJA late one afternoon to buy some capacitors because ARCs usual supplier had run out )."
Based on all comments so far, the SP-10 is definitely your best choice. Also, you may be in serious pursuit of NOS or premium current-production tubes if you buy one. Looking here http://www.arcdb.ws/SP10/SP10.html , the -10's fono section has SEVENTY-TWO dB of gain, plenty enough for that Rosewood Signature.
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