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Seriously considering tube preamp…opinions?

Tube virgin, here. I am building a system and I'm trying to contain the preamp/amp cost to $3k or so. (I could go up a little.) 

I'm inclined not to dive into tubes all the way through, but get a solid state on the output end. (Open to suggestions; inclined toward PS Audio, Parasound.) I'm reading around about tube preamps and have talked with my local dealer, who sells Black Ice/Jolida and Prima Luna (PL). He used to carry Rogue but said they kept coming back for repairs. That's why he carries PL.

I'm asking these questions after having established (via reviews, comments) that Schiit gear is quite the value. Lately, I've been reading about Decware and other small tube makers. I'm very curious about buying direct, if possible, and a company that stands behind their products is crucial.

So, your opinions about tube integrated or *especially* tube preamps —

1. Who do you like? Consider I want to do pre/amp for a total of $3k if possible.

2. Do you think PL is worth all that money just for a preamp? I get the feeling they're high quality but a bit over-hyped. (No disrespect to the highly passionate Kevin Deal, but he's all over my search results.) And what would you think about $2k/$1k preamp-to-amp spending ratio?

3. Any sense of what happened to Jolida since the name change to "Black Ice"? I see there's a sordid story there but did the re-branding clear up the mess? Any experiences with the Black Ice company?

4. I know there are many Schiit fans out there; so my question would be -- did anyone consider Schiit for tube preamp and go another way? Or move beyond Schiit for any particular reason? It's hard not to just capitulate and do a Freya+ or Saga+ but why wouldn't one just go with Schiit?




128x128hilde45
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
@schubert What is not worth it?
@tvad  I hear you on altering the original design, esp of a premium product
@atmasphere Thanks for the advice about repairs. I would prefer just to deal with a local dealer, though perhaps they just ship it back to the maker? I don't know, but of course if it's under warranty and in their hands, I'm spared the hassle.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
It;s a very tech reason , Basically tube amps have a much faster recovery rate
that our ears hear as sweet at high freqs . than SS .
Massed violins are greatly helped by this . Very little other is .Also , a symphonic record needs a far greater  dynamic range  .

A very crude explanation but I no longer have the  paper on this .
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
Thank you!
decooney
2,054 posts
 
@schubert 6,176 posts
Unless you are a classical music nut it is not worth it . Tubes will end upcosting you more than the gear and there are many fake ones around .

I’m not a classical music nut, and it’s totally worth it to me. Did solid state for 35 years, Class-A, was very nice, still fatiguing at times during long-term listening sessions. Then, found good tubes, good tube amps that don’t burn tubes down, with added dynamics, no listener fatigue, way more engaging, 3D sound, musical. Two colleagues, now adding tubes and tube DACs in recording studios and mastering. Finding good tubes is key.
gunners01
42 posts
 
Line Magnetic offer very good value for $ tube amps.  You need to pair with right speakers but I've had two, been very happy with both.  
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