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
kirkwallace's avatar
kirkwallace
280 posts
 

@dseltz good points.  And Aric mentioned to me that the wait is now more like 5 months and he hopes to be able to cut that down more in the coming months. So, @rowester it’d be good to check in with him as you get closer to a decision to see what the time line is like more accurately. 

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
809 posts
 

Leben gear is beautiful, but their pre has a wonderful phono stage that would just go to waste in your system.  An alternate path, given the efficiency of your Cornwalls, is to buy a Leben integrated, and replace your Michi as well.  I have the 600x.

wsrrsw's avatar
wsrrsw
1,475 posts
 

The Raven Preamplifier I have. A keeper

Manley Neo Classic 300B Preamplifier..Hum? (Also 300B's can be expensive)

Or sell your Michi S5 power amp (more power than the Klipsch ever need) and get a ACCUPHASE E-3000 - INTEGRATED STEREO AMPLIFIER. (also more power that yr. speakers need) but anything Accuphase makes is dah bomb. Less $$$ on cables too.

quincy
474 posts
 

Wow!  Lots of great recommendations!  Your first comment about the Mac sounds like you can't go wrong there!  Its on the tip of your mind, its good equipment, so why not?  Second choice would be a high end Conrad Johnson unit like the Art or Premier series.  No phono stage to pay for or worry about being wasted on vinyl!  Good luck with you decision.  Let us know which way you went!

I've a C-J Premier 17ls for the last 25 years or so, no complaints, built like a tank. Signal tubes every 10 years or so....Gold Lion.

musicfan2349's avatar
musicfan2349
310 posts
 

@gotolondon2 you said: 

"I chose the Primaluna over the ARC due to the massive PITA tax (Pain In The ASS) if a valve blows with the ARC gear."

I had an ARC SP3A-1 for about 30+ years that I purchased second hand from a shop in Colorado. Nary a problem for 25 years until a cap in the power supply said "enough".  That was easily repaired by an aftermarket shop.

Considering that it was 10+ years old when I purchased it, then I added another 20-some years of use I was quite happy with it. I think I only rolled the phono tubes once in it. The only reason I swapped the SP3 out was to upgrade to an SP11 Mk2. I’ve seldom ever heard of an ARC preamp eating a tube. 

Good luck with your search!

Happy listening.

 

More to discover