What improvements would I get with a "better" preamp?


Current preamp is Mapletree Audio 2A/SE Linestage, upgraded with Black Gate caps. Tube rectified separate power supply. 6SN7 per channel. Point-to-point wired. What could be better (for less than $5,000) and why? Must have RCA ins/outs, not XLR.

rockadanny

Most likely only newer BAT preamps have them. I have a BAT VK-80 and it has 3 sets of RCA inputs and 2 sets of Balanced XLR inputs. It's possible you might be able to get one for Under $5K used but would have to keep on eye on it.

Depends on what specific improvements you’re looking for, what sound characteristics are most important to you, and are you looking for new or used?

Neutral with a touch of lushness. I wish to avoid analytical. Live, unamplified music is clear yet organic. That's what I want. 

You probably have tried alternate 6sn7’s, I just want to say, my friend and I were quite surprised at how much difference we heard when changing the Rectifier tube in his Hagerman Cornet 2.

He bought it used, and the seller sent alternate tubes with it.

" the two rectifiers in the Hagerman Cornet 2 that we played with were Sylvania 5Y3G B8M and an RCA 5U4GB.  We preferred the RCA"

https://www.hagtech.com/pdf/cornet2.pdf

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I mistakenly reversed one set of my Cayin 6sl7 and 6sn7’s, which look identical, blew one 6sl7.

I tried a pair Sylvanias that looked physically different, chrome top, hated their sound, returned them, tried and kept GE 6sl7GT.

These look identical to the 6sn7’s I like in my Cayin A88T

https://www.ebay.com/itm/257147855708?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=06c29ab2-1320-11f1-8d52-303061386266

Does anyone have a way to know who made these for Cayin?