deHavilland UltraVerve preamp.
http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/UltraVerve-Preamplifier.htm
Audio Note M2 preamp (used).
So musical.
Are you also asking for 6SN7 recommendations?
Most Musical 6NS7 tube for a Preamp?
A request for recommendations by those with experience with different 6SN7 tubes.
My system so far is a Pass Labs XA25 SS Amp, and a circa 1988 Tannoy FSMs.
The speakers operate at 4 ohms with a 94 sensitivity.
The room size is medium. Acoustically well treated.
I listen at lower volumes 60-75db. Vocals mostly.
I am looking for the most musical preamp, with a remote.
Budget is $3k. Used preferred. Better value.
Not considering anything from Schiit Audio.
Considering- Supratek Chardonnay.
Any other suggestions?
Tube Ideas?
Thank you!
My system so far is a Pass Labs XA25 SS Amp, and a circa 1988 Tannoy FSMs.
The speakers operate at 4 ohms with a 94 sensitivity.
The room size is medium. Acoustically well treated.
I listen at lower volumes 60-75db. Vocals mostly.
I am looking for the most musical preamp, with a remote.
Budget is $3k. Used preferred. Better value.
Not considering anything from Schiit Audio.
Considering- Supratek Chardonnay.
Any other suggestions?
Tube Ideas?
Thank you!
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- 95 posts total
Well, I have tried a bunch when i owned amps that used them . I thought the Ken Rad, Sylvania Bad Boys, were my favorites. if you can find some that are not "microphonic".. I seriously doubt it I got them from Andy @vintagetube services. The problem with all 6Sn7s is that they do not have that great of bass, well except for The Ken Rads ... good luck. I even outright told Andy that i wanted some 6SN7 with good bass,,, It ain’t going to happen. Now depending what other tubes it uses , you can get those with better bass and make it up. As an example my amps used one tube 6SN7 for the phase splitter and another type for the gain like maybe 12AT7. Oh BTW the Sylvania bad boys do everything top notch...except Bass. It is there . It just isn’t that strong Check this out from Electra Fidelity http://electrafidelity.com/tube-rolling I copied and pasted it below: A WORD ABOUT 6SN7 TUBES As for 6SN7 tubes the circuit of the Silver 45-SE offers more flexibility, but again, some of the 6SN7 variants (especially those not designated with 6SN7 markings) may not work ideally in the circuit as it was originally designed. However, in our own testing and analysis we have found that for our preferences and best sound characteristics the Raytheon VT-231 with black flat plates (or alternately Raytheon 6SN7GTB, either short glass envelope with side getter or tall glass envelope with top getter) is the tube of choice. Next would be the Sylvania VT-231 with black plates (or alternately Sylvania 6SN7GT with medium glass envelope, black plates, and bottom silver getter, a.k.a. "Bad Boy"). Lastly the Tungsol 6SN7GT with black glass and round mica, a.k.a. "Mouse Ear", work well in the circuit. Recently one of our customers did extensive testing of different 6SN7 tubes in the Silver 45-SE. Click HERE to view the 6SN7 tube analysis. So as you can see, many different sound characteristics are possible, all due to the different electrical and, perhaps more precisely, distortion characteristics of the tube. As with the 45 tube types, if you have any questions regarding tube rolling and which 6SN7 tubes are acceptable replacements for the ones supplied with your amplifier, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss options with you. This the link he had providedhttps://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-reference-6sn7-thread.117677/ Good Luck . Personally, I wish amp/pre-amp Builders would quit using them , Wow, This about exactly what i thought . this is probably the nest IMLO http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0304/6sn7.htm |
https://www.lineartubeaudio.com/products/mz2mz2-s
or even better if you can find a used mZ3 If you can stretch your budget a bit https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa244e-linear-tube-audio-microzotl-preamplier-tube What's nice is that all can use either 6sn7 or 12sn7 tube |
The Modwright LS 100 used should fit in your budget if you can find one. I've been super happy with mine. No lack of bass, but I have 4 subwoofers. Having said that, Before I got my Harbeth Super HL5 Plus speakers I was using Legacy Audio Focus 20/20 speakers and they produced prodigious amounts of bass on their own when connected to the LS-100. Is the LS-100 the "most musical" in that price range? Beats me. I'm sure you'll get some other good recommendations. The only issue I've had with it is NOS and some of the fancier new tubes going microphonic in it. I won't mention brands, but their first name is Sophia and last name is Electric. The Tung Sols that came with it have not had any issues with microphonics and sound surprisingly good. They are in it now while I'm waiting for a replacement for one of the NOS tubes that started crackling... |
why tube preamp into SS amp? I say go tube all the way. you can always put your SS amp back in for comparison. those speakers are soo efficient you could easily go for a tube integrated with remote volume, probably remote source switching which I never use or, an old tube preamp with a lot of features, manual controls, into a tube amp or integrated with remote volume, some sources direct to amp, some thru preamp. I traded my McIntosh SS amp and SS preamp for 2 tube pieces, couldn't be happier. 1. old mcintosh tube tuner/preamp, terrific collection of inputs, manual controls, mx110z. 2. Cayin A88T integrated tube amp, 45wpc. remote volume, remote inputs, preamp in bypass... I would like external bias meter/adjust (not my model), and remote balance on the preamp, or, in my case, remote balance on the integrated. think future options now. luckily the old McIntosh preamp has phono 1 and phono 2, which I didn’t think about, but, moved up to a two tonearm turntable, having those 2 phonos made is soooo easy |
- 95 posts total