Pre-amp decision

I had recently purchased a Bryston BP 25 and 4B ST and thought that I was in music nirvana.
Then my friend asked ..why don't you try a tube preamp with the 4B ST.
I was able to audition,in my own home..in my own system..
a Blue Circle 3.1 and let me tell you ,my BP 25 never went back into my system. The improvement ..well the only word to decribe it is..WOW..
Granted this preamp is about twice as much as the BP 25 but the improvement is worth every penny.
Blue Circle also make a entry level preamp BC21, which there are a few for sale on Audiogon.
I don't think you can go wrong with either a Rogue or a Blue Circle..
I have since sold my BP 25 on Audiogon..
Happy looking and listening....

The Rogue 66 Magnum with the 3-B SST is an excellent choice, as is the BP-20/25 Bryston with Bryston amplifiers. The combination Bryston's is what I'd lean towards -you'll have a great sounding reliable system for a long time.

peter jasz

Just make sure you give a tube preamp a listen.You will not be disappointed.

I have owned both the Rogue 66(non-magnum) and the BP-25 both being married up to my 4B-ST. The BP-25 is brutally revealing and accurate. The Rogue on the other hand offers a warmth that gives me more listening pleasure for longer periods of time. Rogue preamps would be a good match but there are other inexpensive tube units out there that would also offer a nice presentation - Sonic Frontiers, Cary, Audible Illusions to name just a few. But do try to audition a tube preamp if you can...

Thanks to all for the response. I'll keep the forum posted on my results. It's been a while since I have been in high end audio. My original system was Acoustat Model IIs (with direct coupled tube amps) and a hand made tube pre-amp built during my early design days. The Acoustats sounded wonderful---in one spot. However, those things would blow up every year or so and I got tired of fixing them. Anyway this is great place for more current info.