2. amps-preamps
  3. 171837-10169

Best Tube PreAmp - McIntosh vs. Audio Research vs. VAC vs. Atma-Sphere

I’m in the market for a Stereo Tube Preamplifier for around $5k-8k in a used market. The reason I want a Tube PreAmp is because I love listening to Male Vocals with smooth velvety sound of Tube.

I will eventually be integrating it into a HT setup. When I’d Parasound Halo A51 5-channel Amp, I typically listened to Music 30% & watched movies 70% of the time. You never know but the % might change after I get the Tube PreAmp.

Source: Oppo BDP-105, Nakamichi RX-505 tape deck

Amplifier: Luxman m900u

Speakers: Tyler Acoustics Linbrook System II Floorstanding (89db, 8 ohms)

My question to you is which PreAmp would you recommend & why? I would prefer feedback from someone who has done some sort of comparison with atleast two of the following or similar type of PreAmps. I understand more you spend, more you get for your money. But I would prefer to stay at the lower spectrum of my price range than the higher.

  • McIntosh C2600 / C2700
  • Audio Research Reference 6 / 6SE / 40th Anniversary
  • Atma-Sphere MP1 / MP3
  • VAC Signature / Rennaisance / any other model
  • Cary Audio SLP-05 / any other model
  • PS Audio BHK Signature
  • Allnic L-9000 / L-7000

Later on the plan is to build a HT system & will add Amp for surrounds & center.

hitsofmisses
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,760 posts
 

I think the prospect of not burning through tubes while watching TV/movies outweighs whatever you might lose in sound quality for watching video.  But, that’s me. 

I get that, but you can get thousands of hours out of the tubes. If you spend the same time listening to music the life is the same.

Stereophile did a survey at one of their shows in the early 2000s. It was two identical home theatre setups. One had the normal box store amplification and speakers, the other had high end stuff. People were not told what was different and were asked to gauge their experience. The room with the better equipment got better marks for picture quality! But the only difference was the sound.

gmercer
193 posts
 

FWIW, I use a C2700 for two channel and HT purposes, and am very happy with it. McIntosh also makes AV processors and the like if you want to take it a step further.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,760 posts
 

The MP1 is among the top 4 of my list. What's the life of various tubes in MP1, number of tubes/ models, and how expensive they're? Does certain tubes have to be replaced in set? 

@hitsofmisses  None of the tubes are stressed so they last a long time. The linestage and output of the phono section will easily go 10,000 hours.

The 12AT7s in the phono section front end do have to be quiet, but these are the tubes nearest the rear panel; the front and middle phono tubes do not have the same noise requirement. When the front end tubes get too noisy for that service, they can run fine later in the circuit. We've seen preamps in the field for 20 years that still have good tubes in them (with the customer claiming the preamp was in constant use; whether that is true or not is a different story...).

 

hshifi
572 posts
 

Hello,

Be careful about choosing a tube preamp for Ht bypass. When they shut off the tubes completely you will lose 10db of gain. The tubes in a preamp last a long time. So go with the brand that leaves them on even during HT bypass. 10 db is a lot for a surround processor to make up. I think $400 every 10-15 years is ok. 

kmmd's avatar
kmmd
73 posts
 

VAC preamps keep the 6922 tubes on when using Cinema Bypass.  It also outputs a balanced signal.  I'm using my Master line stage with a Theta Casablanca IVa pre/pro which works well.  

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