Looking for Tube Pre Amp Advice

robshaw,

All Aric Audio preamps that are currently made, do have adjustable gain.

The Don Sachs/Lynn Olson Raven preamp does not have adjustable gain, if I remember correctly.....I haven't had it in my system for about 9 months or so

All of the higher end Supratek preamps that I have had in my system (both Cabernets and the Grange) have had adjustable gain.

I hope that helps

I too would recommend a 6SN7 based preamp.  The 6SN7 is the most linear and musical small tube ever made, IMO, and a lot of high-end experts would agree.  I use my own build very similar to what Don Sachs used to make, with different power-supply components.  I never get tired of it.  I also have never had trouble with microphony.  You have to use good-quality NOS tubes, IMO.  Don used to sell his with high-end Chinese coke-bottle 6SN7s, and I have found that these can be very microphonic.

I run both a sold state system and full tube based system and have found the pur solid state gives the greatest sound stage. While the Aragon 8000B paired with an Aurum preamp certainly has more power for classic rock, the tube system is far better for sound stage and high end. Why try to mix the two. Four years ago I bought a PrimaLuna Dialog 400 HP which integrates a great preamp that I improved with  Bugle Boy drivers and a strong amp with their EL34 power tubes. For even more power this can be upgraded to KT120's. On top of that the circuitry can be switched from linear to triad mode and the isolated headphone circuit is fantastic. For Jazz and instrumentals the tube system gives much more enjoyment.

You haven't mentioned if you are playing vinyl or not. If so, the most important component I have found is the phono stage. I use a single Manley Chinook tubed phono stage for all three systems (Prima Luna tubes, Aragon/Aurum  SS and Moth 2A3 HP amp). Tweeking the phono stage settings can make a difference that the most tone deaf listener can appreciate.

@nor78 

Welcome to the forum... great post. +1 on phono stages. 

Another recommendation here for Aric - I didn't have room for the 2-box Motherlode, so I got the Super 6SN7, and later sent it in to Aric for the additional upgrades, which he said should get to about 90% of the performance of the Motherlode. Haven't heard the Motherlode, but the upgraded Super 6SN7 is a big improvement over the stock version, and I liked the stock version about equally with the LTA MicroZOTL level 3, which I'm now selling. Aric himself is a pleasure to work with, too.