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Preamp Upgrade Advice

I'm pretty new to higher end preamps, but looking for one to take over my current system. I had been using the preamp built into my Sonnet Morpheus DAC (which i'll be keeping for now until I upgrade to a Pasithea or something else, the preamp portion on these is functional but very basic). I have a benchmark LA4 right now, which works and is very clean, but its an almost overly dry and neutral sound. I'm looking for something with a warmer and fuller sound. Not sure if I want tubes or not, i've traditionally stuck to solid state but i've only ever tried budget tube amps before which were always too muddy and veiled for me

 

Only real criteria is it needs to have low output impedance to fit with my amps (ideally 50-100 ohms), balanced is a plus but not absolutely necessary. Doesn't need phono or a dac. If anyone has experience comparing the below i'd greatly appreciate it. Budget is $5-10k

 

Pass Labs XP-12 (current top choice, I've heard it before but not at home)

Audio Research LS-3 or LS-2

Conrad Johnson ET6/ET6SE

Rogue Audio RP-7 or RP-9

Bricasti M20 (over budget, but I could stretch for it)

Bryston BR-20 or BP-19

Naim NAC 322

 

baldassinia
ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,473 posts
 

Fully fleshed out and detailed musical preamps come from great tube preamps. I’ve been at this for fifty years an it has been a slow migration away from solid state and to tube components. Inexpensive tube preamps can be warm without detail. Good quality ones are detailed and fully fleshed out. Benchmark is know for highly detailed and analytical sound. I recommend Audio Research preamps and secondly Conrad Johnson. ARC... the most recent you can afford. I recommend stretching if you can to get a better one. The preamp is the real heart of your system, you do not want that one holding you back. 

 

Choosing between the LS-2 and LS-3... go for the LS-3 a bit more refined on the top. Although this era is known for them being a bit lean. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,993 posts
 

I went from Rogue RP-1 to Pass XP-12. Pass is quiet, warm sounding and presents everything in a very listenable way. 
I would recommend either the XP-12 or the Rogue RP-9. 

jperry
2,538 posts
 

Luxman CL38uC is an option worth considering. Great sound and looks. I owned one and upgraded to a preamp higher up the line.

I also thought the Benchmark was very clean, but too dry and sterile for me.

yyzsantabarbara
5,565 posts
 

If you want a preamp as detailed as the LA4 (I owned it for a decade) and also a tube design with a holographic presentation, then look at Allnic preamps.

I had the most expensive Allnic preamp side by side with the Benchmark HPA4 preamp (same as the LA4) and both had the same level of detail but the Allnic adding a holographic sound. I have not heard all the Allnic preamps but the top end model I heard was the OTL/OCL variant. 

I have the Allnic HPA 15000 OTL/OCL headphone amp at my home for a 2-week demo, and it is similar to their OTL/OCL preamp.

I dislike gear that is warm with a rolled off top. For me musicality is found in detail. The Allnic gives that detail but with a warm embrace. A very unusual combo.

BTW - I sold my HPA4 last month after owning a LA4 or HPA4 for a decade. The reason being the imersiv D-1 DAC I bought was restricted by the HPA4. The imersiv D-1 needs to be DAC direct. This is the most detailed thing I ever heard, and I think the most musical.

incorrigable
203 posts
 

Yamaha C-5000 gives you a transformer for each channel. No dac. 

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