2. amps-preamps
  3. 1124759324

Help me deceide on pre-amp please

Guys
I'm looking for suggestions on my next upgrade. I'm leaning towards a new pre-amp. Perhaps a VTL 2.5 or maybe a Audio Research unit. I'd prefer to keep the price under $1500 USED.
A friend of mine was kind enough to let me try a Cal Aud Labs Sigma Dac on the O/P of my NAD and I did like the tube effect. It was not a huge improvement IMO but did add a certain bloom and impact on the upper bass and lower midrange. It was this audition that has convinced me to include tubes in my search but I am open to suggestions on both SS and Tubed units.
Ideally the preamp will have remote volume and HT pass as I plan to integrate this into a HT sys. I listen to mostly pop and rock music.

Here is my current 2CH sys.

NAD C542 CD Player
Aragon 8008ST Power Amplifier
Acurus RS-11 Pre-amplifier

Paradigm Reference Studio 100 V3 Loudspeakers
Paradigm Servo 15 V2 Subwoofer
energeezer
energeezer OP
26 posts
 
Thanks for the great suggestions?
Any more?
midirons
42 posts
 
dehavilland. Here is the link to a demo. (I still vote for the VTL 5.5. Of course only your vote counts!)

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ddpreatube&1126024726
mitch2
3,967 posts
 
C123666, I used to think the tube cost was bad, but after researching and playing with the SF preamps, I found only two of the tubes made most of the difference compared to stock tubes. For example, the SF Line 2 and Line 1 only take 6 tubes each, and could achieve excellent sound with 2 NOS 7308's or 6022's at $100/pair, and 4 low noise new tubes at $20-30/pair. The Line 2 was rated a Stereophile Class A preamp using the stock Sovtek 6922's at $12 each. Buyers should also check the product's reputation for how hard the equipment is on tubes, since they last longer in some of the preamp designs. Partsconnexion says Pearl Tube Coolers can increase tube life (we shall see). To me, adding a tubed pre was worth it for the improved body and dimensionality in the sound of my system.
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