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Tube Pre-Amp Recommendation

Im new to this forum but have spent few months reading into posts. The more i read the more i get confused on my first purchase of a Good quality Tube Pre-amp. At this very moment I have always used Solid states pre-amp but after hearing the Audio Research Arc Ref 5 and 3 I am on the upgrade bug. Considering these units cost allot of money I need some suggestion if there are other Tube Pre-Amp which can either match similar levels to the Arc Ref 5 or better it.

I am not bothered about name brands or looks of the unit rather on how it presents the music to me.
I have not own a Tube Gear before in my life, and not sure on how to go about it. BTW I am in Indonesia (A British Expat Working and Living Here)

Demoing unit is out of the question here, even buying a unit here is so much more expensive then back at home In the UK. I prefer to Buy from USA (Will use a Power converter if needed)

My Current Setup is:
Speakers: Philharmonics 3
Amplifier: Audio GD Master 2 Series Mono Blocks (Will Upgrade Later to Krell, Macintosh or Pass)
CD player: Oppo 95 Using on Board DAC for the time being. Looking to upgrade later on for DAC
Room: Heavily treated, with Foam, Acoustic Panels, Bass Traps in all 4 Corners.

Budget less than 6000 Dollars.

Need Performance Level Matching that of Arc Ref 5Se or better.

Need suggestion and opinion on how to go about this. I prefer fasting sound more to neutral. Slight warm but not too much. I did find Cary SLP05 Pretty Warm, however on Ebay it slipped my fingers otherwise I was going to pull the trigger on that. I will being pairing this with Solid State Amplifier don’t want to get into Power Amps using Tubes for the next few years at least.

Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks Guys
dragon_vibe
rsimms
150 posts
 
I can recommend the Dodd preamp if a single ended battery preamp will do. I thought it kicked my Calypso’s ass but couldn’t stomach the battery as I like to use tubes for TV and movies too. A friend tried it with compared it with an ARC Ref 5 preamp and thought the ARC sounded best with his ARC CD player but not as well with is ARC PH7 phono preamp.

A few of people here at Audiogon seem to like the Dude preamp better than some of the ARCs. You can find Dude reviews in the review section.

Bob
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
I highly recommend the Manley Jumbo Shrimp, fast, quiet, warm, dynamic and wonderful soundstage. Timbre is accurate. Made in the USA.

A true bargain.
dragon_vibe OP
430 posts
 
Has anyone compared the Dude Pre-amp with Arc Ref5se?
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,467 posts
 
The Dude is amazing and I have only compared to the Ref3 in a friends system. He had Coincident Total Victory V speakers, Bel Canto Ref 500 amps and a very nice analog front end.

The Dude just had more dynamics, scale, authority and overall ease. The AR sounded small in comparison if you will.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Well the ARC 5 SE and the Cary SLP 05 are two very different sounding preamps. I find your prescribed sonic qualities a bit confusing:
I prefer fasting sound more to neutral. Slight warm but not too much.

It seems to me that you are looking for a tube preamp on the faster side of neutral. The ARC is about as fast as they come, the Cary is on the slower, musical side of neutral. Another brand on the fast side of neutral that you may consider is VAC. Aesthetix and VTL also fall into this category, as may others that I have not heard. I have not had an opportunity to listen to The Dude, so I can not comment there.

Of these, my preference would be for a VAC. I find them almost as articulate as the ARC models, but with just a subtle hint of sweetness. As always, YMMV.
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