Suggestions for a tube pre and power amp

@audiomirror 

A careful look at the impedance and phase curves shows that the f328be has impedance below 8 ohms for most of the range from 20 to 3000 Hz (see ASR measurements).

That coupled with the low phase between 20 and 100 Hz will faze (!!!) any amp. One needs and amp with lots of current to drive these speakers to their full capability. SS amps provide that.

I have listened to many tube power amps with my Revel f208 speakers, such as those from ARC, CJ and Cary. It was only when I went back to my old trusted ML #27 that the speakers truly opened. Even some SS amps like the Bryston 2.5b are lacking in current delivery.

Tube amps are great with the right speakers. The f328be are not the right speakers for tube amps.

On the hegel h30 vs coda you probably have to run the hegel in mono like I have to kick it. Its 4 k transients. However it was having a hard time running my magico q7. Nothing like the big kw macintosh  amps  run everything sound great. I would like to try the coda 40? I have the coda running sanders esl. Nice amps great meters.

@lals I would like to know what kind of sound you’re seeking that you are not getting now. If I were to recommend the kit I own and sound good to me like most of the posts here I would indicate the Luxman L-590AxII. Sound familiar?  Power shouldn’t be an issue as the 590 is capable of 160WPC continuously into 4 ohms and 330WPC dynamically into 2 ohms with 13 amps of available current (Paul Miller lab report Hi-Fi News). Maybe a “shiny” treble?  Methinks that post was probably caused by listening through a tipped-up metal dome tweeter that are oh so fashionable these days. The Luxman has a cure for that, just turn the treble control down a notch.  And it’s free!  If you really have an itch to try a tube preamp, and I completely understand that 😉, try the Luxman CL-38uC.  It ticks all your boxes with a remote, balanced inputs (not outputs, tho) that use input transformers, the only way to properly implement balanced connections in tube gear, plus flexible, defeatable tone controls, a great phono stage and tubes that are run conservatively, unlike a number of manufacturers mentioned in this thread. And it’s priced reasonably considering today’s market.  Use your power amp inputs on your 590 for the tube preamp and, by using the “separate” button, you can choose between the external tube preamp or the internal one on your 590 from your armchair doubling your inputs and your choice of sound character.  Happy listening everyone!

“

@agbrace  Wow you have got lot of preamps. Last year I was planning to get ML523 and N534 power amp somehow it didn't work out. I assume you also have many power amps, which is your favorite power amp?

@cooperdude6 You have a very important point which never came in to my mind. Luxman have preout but it is single ended. I can try it with power amp before getting the preamp. Does preamp have lot of break in time?