2. amps-preamps
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$18k Tube preamp for large scale symphonies please

hi, can anyone suggest tube preamp that's good for handling complex music & large scale symphonies recordings in studio/ theatres? i had audition some: Aesthetix, CJ ,Modwright, Audio Note, ARC but all seems lacking in some ways and definitely not enough air at top octaves and instruments separation/ spaciousness. all dealer agrees that some pre is good at certain genre of music and sound Great even more if music is relatively SIMPLE like vocal, jazz, light acoustic, slow rock and maybe pop songs. Yes i know personal taste varies as well: bass strength & high freq. extension etc. & gears matching too. could anyone share their expreience so i can narrow down a list? my music typically: Van Hellsing & Princess Mononoke movie soundtrack. hope dealers provide constructive comments. Thanks All in advance. -phil
philipwu
philipwu OP
214 posts
 
hi Atmasphere,
just reading thru one of your earlier post, you said "Deep bass seems to me the hardest thing for tube preamps to do right, but if they do that right there will be no solid state that can keep up". BUT i think SPECTRAL Audio would have no problem with speed if you are refering to that...
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,861 posts
 
Philipwu, I am not. The ability of a tube preamp to play the instruments with body and impact at the same time is the pervue of tubes and the bane of transistors. Sure, its easy for transistors to be fast (harder for tubes but what we are really talking about here is bandwidth and good tube preamps have as much bandwidth as transistors); the issue is how do you have speed and detail at the same time as being relaxed?

Too often I see brightness associated with detail and I see many audiophiles accept that to get good detail, it has to be bright. But it does not have to be that way- its possible to have more detail (than a bright preamp) and a relaxed, effortless but dynamic presentation all at the same time.

shsohis
119 posts
 
Consider auditioning the Einstein The Tube Pre MK II at about $18k. You will not be disappointed.
philipwu OP
214 posts
 
Thanks Shsohis. but my dealer did not have it. From the reviews, it was described as notes have clarity and not hard, edgy and a big see through soundstage, too bad i'm not prepare to risk 18K without an audition. Neither do i have the chance to hear Emotiva, Veloce, Exemplar Audio, Symphony Line & Viva. i'm really don't have much choice.
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
I'll have to echo Lenny's comments above. We both have Nagra PLL's on the Nagra VFS anti vibration plates. I am sure there are better preamps...but this one seems to do almost everything pretty right, little wrong.

I did compare it Aesthetix Callisto (much bigger stage) Ayre KXR, much better resolution/more quiet and my BAT VK51SE (more umpph in the mids)...the nagra just seems to split things down the middle.

One day soon I do want to try the Lamm and the Allnic (another to add to your list)
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