2. amps-preamps
  3. 1076819459

Tube preamp for phono and headphone use.

First post here, and it may be kind of sound kind of dumb, but I have a question about preamps. I need to purchase a phono preamp and a headphone preamp for my new system (outlaw). It got me wondering if it wouldnt be smarter to buy a used tube preamp with both phono and headphone stages and get the advantages of a single unit and the quality of tube.

Is there such an animal out there that is a realistic buy for this application? Most preamps I see lsited for sale have phono (MM anyway), but I dont see much mentioned about the headphone stage.

Thanks for helping out a music love with training wheels.
chosenhandle
rello
311 posts
 
Rogue 99. Need to use high impedance phones like Sennheiser 600 or 650.
kevinzoe
167 posts
 
The Sonic Frontier Line stages, while no longer in production, have a headphone jack - not sure about phonestage though . . .

The McIntosh tube preamp (forgot the model #) also has a headphone jack but not the std. 1/4" jack . . .

By the way, what headphone amps are your considering (as I too will need to buy one) and what headphones are you using?

Cheers,
kevin
chosenhandle OP
63 posts
 
I haven't narrowed down my list of headphone preamps yet. I am at the stage of trying to figure out the marketplace, features vs. dollars...the normal early decision making stuff. I could make this real easy and just buy the Grado or Rotel and forget the tube side. But since I need a phono pre as well, why not try to see if I can kill two birds with one stome?

As for headphones, I had Beyers, but have since returned them. I have Grado 225's and am planning on picking up Senn. 600's once I get this equipment in place.
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