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Help - Need Preamp under 5K for Class D amps

I’ve been looking at preamps for some time now and now that I’ve finally taken delivery of some audiophile quality speakers it time to find this device.
My current setup is as follows:

Line Arrays in the form of AV123 LS-6’s driven by a pair of Nuforce 9 SEV2’s. No pre in the signal path. Source is a Slim devices Transporter. All files EAC ripped FLAC lossless compression.
AC services:
VH-Audio power cords service the Nuforce’s in Flavor 4 version as well as the Power conditioner. Dedicated circuit utilizing a Furutech outlet and Furutech silver IEC connectors, Furutech gold plugs on the opposite end on power cords except on the Transporter end where I use a Oyaide 079.

Adona Rack and a considerable amount of room treatments.

So what I hear while sitting on the couch is a pretty resolving system with pinpoint imaging, a decent amount of bloom, dynamics galore and a generally pleasing sound except… I’m not quite where I want to be in terms of just being able to relax into the music. I’d like a bit more air, or bloom or warmth? Sorry I don’t have the right description but perhaps the fact that I have NO pre is the problem in general. Overall sound seems to be a bit clinical. Maybe that’s the word.

This is why I ask the help of my audiophile brothers and sisters here. Running my MAC RCA Palladiums’ doesn’t improve this much over the balanced cables I own which are DH-Labs DIYers. Having a home theatre system in tow that utilizes the Nuforce’s as well I find myself constantly moving interconnect cables which is annoying at best.

I’ve been looking at Dan’s Modwright 36.5 and auditioned one from a fellow Audiogon seller. I couldn’t get a handle on it’s attributes from that audition – too different a system not to mention that I didn’t like what I was hearing from his setup. Others pre’s I’ve been interested in are as follows:

Parasound Halo JC-2 – No tubes but does that really matter?
Aesthetix Calypso
Audio Horizons 2.1
Modwright 36.5
Other?

Thanks for your advice.
128x128desalvo55
desalvo55's avatar
desalvo55 OP
257 posts
 
Currently I don't have a preamp to listen to other than when I connect to my Onkyo which sucks the life out of my music. If I were to get off the AC grid I would go with Dodd which is a possibility cause if there's one thing I learned after all these years in this hobby, it's paying close attention to the AC end of things.

If there isn't so much as a pic of the "Dude" it's a hard sell with the wife unit and myself!

Still looking but many excellent recommendations. I like that Audio Eklipse unit (at least by looks and from what I read) as well as the Audio Horizon. What about BAT?
hotbird
61 posts
 
You want to see the backside of the Audio Eklipse...
Here is the grande view ;-)
Back view of the Audio Eklipse

Looks as good behind as it's in front.
And according to Mike Wright, it beats the Conrad Johnson Act2 that costs 3 times with the correct NOS tubes.
hotbird
61 posts
 
Forgot to add, more eye-candy close-ups of the Audiovalve Eklipse on the Korean online store below.

http://www.sorishop.com/goods/209/items/g_9736.html
audioforever
13 posts
 
Hi there
Guess we are both on the same quest...Looking for a good preamp to go along with Nuforce. In my case, kinda looking at either:
1. TRL Dude
2. Audio Eklipse

Tough decision.....so what about u Desalvo.

Regards
YG
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,546 posts
 
The reason TRL's Dude is only $3500 is because they are a small company and they don't play games with the paid reviewers. They don't have a fancy wedsite and Paul is simply a great circuit designer.

There are other folks like me on this site and AA that can confirm how good his stuff is.

Sure, you can spend more money on a foreign piece that will be hard to service if needed and not sound as good.

The Dude is simply in a different league and will end one's desire to trade up or around. No, it is not eye candy nor a brand that you can boast on.

If remote and looks are needed, then the Dude is not your man. If you want beautiful music beyond what you thought was possible, then the Dude is the one for you.

Have fun. I am sure the other preamps mentioned will sound very good. I am sure you will enjoy one of them greatly. I have to. But the Dude and the 225 amp from TRL are really a breakthrough in home audio.
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