1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 198072-222625

Another tube preamp "What should I buy" question.

I’m looking for a preamp to last me for the next 20 years - a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend big. Have a Holo Spring DAC, and will never have a turntable so linestage only. It’s to feed a Michi S5 power amp, into a pair of Cornwalls.

I’m close to pushing the button on a McIntosh MC2700. But why not the Prima Luna Evo 400 Pre? Or (and this is a wildcard) a Leben preamp? Love the idea of a Manley Neo Classic 300B but am concerned of reports of hum that the Cornwalls would only accentuate.

I know this kind of question has been asked many times before on this forum, but what’s the current view? Does anyone have an informed opinion one way or the other?

rowester
zarf's avatar
zarf
108 posts
 

Five hundred watts into a CW4 is a hell of a thing.

Picking a supremely quiet preamp would be my best suggestion. Something with adjustable gain would be my second suggestion. Aric and LTA can do that, and possibly ARC.

I'm not sure that CJ offers adjustable gain.

lanx0003
1,959 posts
 

But I’m against price gouging. The MicroZOTL Level 3 was selling for around $4.5k at the end of last year, but now it’s close to $6k.  I apoligize if my memory does not serve me well.

kennyc
2,978 posts
 

+1 @soix 

Budget? How much “tubular” midrange vs neutral Sonics?

emergingsoul
1,538 posts
 

This is probably one of the most difficult questions in all of audiophile humanity.

I thought about McIntosh for a while too but the lights in the front of it began to annoy me and I do own their amplifiers but all the other stuff I’m not sure about. It doesn’t really excite me.

I bought a Conrad Johnson preamplifier but the Dagostino momentum is worth a look.  I know it’s not tube but I’m not sure that’s a problem for this item.

Have you thought about buying a puppy?

You look really smart in your picture, so I'm sure you'll be making the best decision possible. Don't screw up we're counting on you.

sls883
1,058 posts
 

@lanx0003 the MicroZOTL level 2 preamp was $5,750 in October of 2023 according to a review that I found. The level 1 version was $4,450.

More to discover