@mclinnguy I can't say much about the Coda 5.5 yet, as I'm still waiting for it to be delivered (hopefully sometime this week). That said, I'm trying to figure out my next step with a preamp. I'd love to have a complete system before the end of the year. If possible, it would be great to hear your thoughts on the synergy between the Coda and the PrimaLuna EVO400, as well as with the Backert Rhumba Extreme. There are some EVO400 units available on the European used market at good prices. There are also a few Aric Audio Super 6SN7s, but I'm not fully convinced about it....
Recommendations for a tubed preamp
I'm looking for a tube preamp that would pair well with my Lampizator Big 7 DAC and Coda S5.5 amp. My speakers are Joseph Audio Pulsars.
I've been considering the LTA MicroZOTL, but unfortunately it's only available in the U.S., and I'm based in Europe. My second option was the Qualiton C200, but there are almost no reviews online, and I’m worried it might be hard to resell later on.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated — thanks!
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Aric Audio without hesitation! I have his Motherlode paired to a Coda 16 and it is by far the best my system has ever sounded...and I have had a lot of gear go on and off the audio rack. The inside of his tube offerings may appear messy in comparison, but it only because he personally builds and hand wires all of the internal components and never uses circuit boards. Call him and speak with him...you will not hear a better tube preamp at any price. And he is a great guy with the best customer service in our industry! |
Welcome to boutique builders with hand made point-to-point wired and direct-soldered units with shorter distances, and most with more direct wiring vs circuit boards and production line assembly units catering to plug-in connectors and speed of build. The proof is in the pudding when listening and comparing. The only time it matters more is when the cover is off and you want it to look good instead, or if there is noise generated as a result of things touching each other that should not be. Most design-builders accommodate for this, and they measure for noise before sending units out. They know how things can be wired and configured manually like this and big MFGs dont do it this way because it's labor intensive. That's why people like and buy the boutique builder units, most sound better. Only way to know is to try one or demo one. Best of Luck on the new journey. |
@laaudionut How would you describe the sound character of the Aric? "This version got all possible upgrades from the bigger brother "The Motherlode II
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