Van Alstine gives you two outstanding options there, he pretty much owns the market at that price level. The T8+ is pure tube, while the Avastar uses a tube input stage and an SS output stage. |
I'd look into Modwright at that price point. |
Conrad-Johnson Classic SE? |
Upscale Audio still has a few AES-DJH preamps. These were designed by Dennis Had of Cary Audio. I believe you can get one new with remote for about $1300 or so. Great little preamp at a terrific value. Swap out the stock tubes with some NOS and you should be set. As with most Cary gear, it's on the warm sound of neutral. |
|
If you could stretch your budget a couple hundred of dollars then the Rogue 99 Magnum would be an excellent choice. This preamp can be upgraded to Super Magnum for $500.. Also the customer service at Rogue is outstanding. |
Cary AES-DJH or Modwright SWL9.0 Signature? |
I had the previous model of the Cary, the AE-3, and while it was nice, the Avastar is clearly better. The main difference between the AE-3 and the AES is that the newer model uses a tube rectifier, while the AE-3 used SS for that purpose. |
|
Have Modwright and AES. The Modwright is better. Both are easily upgraded. |
Audio Research is a safe bet. sp16 fits the bill more or less. Includes a decent tube phono section as well. |
Check out the Mystere CA21. Wonderfully natural, musical, dynamic, 3 dimensional, excellent micro and macro dynamics. Bought one a few weeks ago and I continue to be more and more impressed with it each time I listen. |
|
I suggest the Manley Shrimp. It is energetic and punchy with excellent material and build quality. It is just plain fun to listen to. |
|
Manley Shrimp or Modwright SWL 9.0SE Signature or DeHavilland Untraverve? |
Must be also tonally accurate, extended and transparent. |
Van Alstine has a used 4Si on his web site for around $450,not the last word in depth but with good 12AX7's in line stage(Orange Globe Amperex a treat)a very musical pre
with a clear,sweet and accurate sound.
Also decent headphone and phono amps. |
Must be also tonally accurate, extended and transparent.
Pmboyd
Let's put it this way, if I substitute the Shrimp in place of the VAC Renaissance, I still enjoy the music. I am not sitting there thinking that the sound sucks in comparison to the VAC.
I cite this as a straight drop-in without changing cables other than XLR to RCA which I have both in the same model. So, no other system alterations whatsoever necessary when switching to the Shrimp.
The Shrimp has less low end heft but as a trade-off, sounds punchier in the bass. It is also not as extended at the top as the VAC. Consequently, some of the recorded ambience is not as completely separated from the notes played as heard through the VAC. But, there is still a certain puppy-like quality to the Shrimp that just makes it fun to listen to. The lack of remote control is a bit of a pain but the Shrimp has such a nice big smooth operating volume knob that it's a pleasure to get up, go over and give it a turn. The volume control is not stepped either which I hate.
I have no problems with hiss or hum which I also hate.
I much preferred the Shrimp to Audio Research SP16 or LS15.
|
Pmboyd,
From your description, tonally accurate and extended with a bias toward the warm side of nuetral, I think you would like the VTL 2.5 tubed preamp. It comes with a remote and is within your price range if you don't need the phono stage. I was on the same search a few yrs ago and found the answer with the VTL and NOS Mullards. Hope this helps. |
Remember with a tube pre-amp and SS amp, it is important to go with an amp that has higher input impedance (I prefer 60K Ohm or higher in general, but 40K is probably OK). How high will vary depending on pre-amp output impedance peaks at certain frequencies, which is often poorly documented. I like to go with the general rule keep the output impedance spec on the pre low and the input on the amp as high as possible to minimize chances for distortion and poor dynamics.
I recall 3 of the leading contenders in a tube pre-amp for me were DeHavilland, ARC, and VTL. The Manley is interesting but was not on my radar at the time. My local dealer sells ARC so I got to hear the sp16, liked what I heard and ended up buying the sp 16 new though at a decent price in that it was near the end of its production run. |
1. Don't need phono. 2. My amp is 60k ohms impedance. |
Modwright or DeHavilland or ARC or VTL? |
What amp will it be used with? The TAD 125s? With ARC, I'd expect those to provide a most resolving sound similar to the best tube gear I have heard, which tends to resemble SS more.
VTl and DeHavilland made my short list when looking probably can't go wron with either of those as well. Probably more of a personal taste thing. My gut says those will sound more "tubey" than the ARC based on what I have read, but have never actually heard these. |
Preamp will be paired with the TAD 125 monoblocks, preferably a preamp with a smaller tube complement -- two to three tubes max. |
(Not counting the rectifier.) |
I think any of those pre-amps are good choices.
ARC sp16 uses 6 12AX7 tubes, three in the line stage and 3 in the phono.
My TAD 125s and my ARC SP16 are in different systems. Would like to try them together someday with the Dynaudio monitors and OHM 100s in particular.
The ARC replaced a Carver C6 pre-amplifier and was a major step up in my main rig. The Carver is currently running the TADs and this combo is quite good in my second rig running Triangle monitors + M&K sub and Stax headphones. |
Strongly leaning in the direction of Modwright and DeHavilland. |
You have a pretty detailed amp and very resolving speakers (Merlins?) I believe also.
Unless ultimate detail and resolution is your thing, ARC may not be the way to go in your case.
I think you are on a good track. I would love tohear the resulting system no matter which way you go with the pre.
Not sure if you do phono or not, but be sure to take that into account in that some pre-amps have this built in and some not and typically it will add cost. |
I repeat: no phono needed. |
CJ tube preamps are mellow, the classic is just a tad warmer than ARC. |
DeHavilland Ultraverve 3 or Joule-Electra L-150 Mk2? |
I like the looks of the Joule but have read more good things about the Dehavilland, FWIW. I am not familiar with the Joule sound but the build quality looks pretty good. |
Hello,
You can look for CJ used equipment in ebay UK.
There's also a forum in france where users offer their gear, including some CJs . It's in french:
http://www.club-hifi.com/forum/topic/search?categoryId=2761369%3ACategory%3A2085&q=CONRAD
Regards
david
|
oops,
sorry my reply was for another post :-) |
