2. amps-preamps
  3. 1124759324

Help me deceide on pre-amp please

Guys
I'm looking for suggestions on my next upgrade. I'm leaning towards a new pre-amp. Perhaps a VTL 2.5 or maybe a Audio Research unit. I'd prefer to keep the price under $1500 USED.
A friend of mine was kind enough to let me try a Cal Aud Labs Sigma Dac on the O/P of my NAD and I did like the tube effect. It was not a huge improvement IMO but did add a certain bloom and impact on the upper bass and lower midrange. It was this audition that has convinced me to include tubes in my search but I am open to suggestions on both SS and Tubed units.
Ideally the preamp will have remote volume and HT pass as I plan to integrate this into a HT sys. I listen to mostly pop and rock music.

Here is my current 2CH sys.

NAD C542 CD Player
Aragon 8008ST Power Amplifier
Acurus RS-11 Pre-amplifier

Paradigm Reference Studio 100 V3 Loudspeakers
Paradigm Servo 15 V2 Subwoofer
energeezer

Showing 2 responses by mitch2

mitch2
3,684 posts
 
If you can up your budget just a bit, you would be very happy with this:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1129037174

It has everything you are looking for, including HT pass through and an excellent Headroom headphone amp, is built like a tank, and would hang in there sonically if you continue to upgrade other parts of your system. This pre was rated Stereophile Class A. It should work wonders with the Aragon, and without sacrificing your bass extension and detail. Disclaimer; I own it and yes, this is a sales offer, but also true IMHO.
mitch2
3,684 posts
 
C123666, I used to think the tube cost was bad, but after researching and playing with the SF preamps, I found only two of the tubes made most of the difference compared to stock tubes. For example, the SF Line 2 and Line 1 only take 6 tubes each, and could achieve excellent sound with 2 NOS 7308's or 6022's at $100/pair, and 4 low noise new tubes at $20-30/pair. The Line 2 was rated a Stereophile Class A preamp using the stock Sovtek 6922's at $12 each. Buyers should also check the product's reputation for how hard the equipment is on tubes, since they last longer in some of the preamp designs. Partsconnexion says Pearl Tube Coolers can increase tube life (we shall see). To me, adding a tubed pre was worth it for the improved body and dimensionality in the sound of my system.
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