Eastern Electric Mini Max vs AE-3 DJH preamps

There is a relatively non upgraded for sale now. No I am not the owner.
I also own an AE-3 paid 300- 350 for it turned my system into a nirvana broadcaster to put it mildly and wouldn't sell it. I have spent more on a few tubes. I guess in truth it would seriously take about ten K to get anywhere close to this miraculous little pre.
I had a buddy stuff it with the exact same parts as a DJH signature and he agreed that the sound didn't change that much and called it "scary good".
It is the biggest giant killer in this industry as long as you roll the 2 tubes it only has.
I am lucky because I have some of the best 6SN7s around numbering over 100. This pre will sound good with just about any decent old stock tube. IMHO it likes the bottom getter Sylvanias like the famous for good reasons " W "for instance. Bad BOYs or other early JAN or VT231 will do the trick. Obviously the biggest sound that this pre is capable of is to use the tube du Jour the Tung Sol Round Plate GT. I bought mine before the tube insanity hit.

Mingles,
I used the DJH pre w/ the Pass Labs Aleph 30 power amp. This combo still is one of the most enjoyable I've heard in my years of tinkering. The warm 3D tube sound w/ beautiful airiness of the DJH pre and the very articulate, non edgy sonics of the Aleph 30 was a perfect match. The 20 db of gain the DJH produces can be lowered with a simple mod. Call Cary Audio. Without it the volume maxed out at the 11 o'clock setting.

Mjcmt, thanks for that testimony. The more I hear about Pass amps, the more I'm inclined to check one out. Diehard tube fans swear they sound smooth. The thought of not fussing with power tubes is appealing.

I really love the DJH. I bought it as a stop-gap measure, but discovered how nice it sounds. It's definitely a keeper. I dealt with the gain issue by using Rothwell in-line attenuators. Thanks again. -Mark

Mingles,

Yes I loved that combo. I now have a benchmark DAC which I understand is a good match run directly into the Aleph 30 so I'm thinking of getting another one, or the Aleph J would be better.

Remember the Aleph series needs speakers in the 89-91 db range for loud volume, but I was satisfied with my 87 db speakers on all except the most driving rock music.

The Aleph J is an improvement over the Aleph 30 which improves upon the Aleph 3. But some like the 3 because it is more tube-like but with a lighter bass. The J has the lowest distortion of them all for better use with very high efficiency speakers. But I never had any issues with the 30 and it can be bought cheaper on the used market ($800-900).