2. amps-preamps
  3. 1204685941

Tube preamp suggestions.

I would love to hear from anyone who has heard individually or compared good tube preamplifiers lately. I was dead set on getting the Wyetech but is is so much money for a line stage only. I am very happy with the way my system sounds in general but would like to experiment with tubes as my whole system has been entirely solid state except for my phono pre. I love all types of music but especially enjoy ambient electronic music, classical music, and jazz. I am tempted by the ease of having a remote control and lots of features but the truth is I want the best sound quality. I like crystal clarity, holographic, engaging sound so a tube preamp that is still accurate and with a lot of coloration would be great.

Here is my short list of potential tube preamps:

Wyetech Labs New Jade
Atmasphere MP3
Joule Electra LA150 (maybe used)
McIntosh C2200 (maybe used)

My current system is:
Audio Physic Virgo 3 loudspeaker
Spectron Musician 3 signature edition
Edge Electronics G1 solid state preamplifier
Resolution Audio Opus 21 CDP
Tara Labs RSC Interconnects
Isoclean Power cords

Thanks for you input.
j_evege
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I have not heard any of the preamps (but briefly at shows) mentioned except the Joule 150MKII which I currently own. I chose it after considerable time spent with the CAT SL1 Ultimate MKII, Lamm LL2, Placette RVC, and Placetter Active. I use CAT JL2 and Music Reference RM9 MKII amps and in this context with Merlin VSM-MXe I found it provides the best balance between nuetrality and musicality, warmth and detail, and very solid bass performance. My speakers are very neutral and revealing and I find they benefit form electronics that can provide some body and wetness to the sound, a certain level of timbral richness and density and it mates very well with my system. That being said, my Passive TVC with S&B 102 transformers is much less expensive and I go back and forth on which of these two approaches is better. It is worth considering a Passive TVC if your system is appropriate.
chaz801's avatar
chaz801
77 posts
 
Ive talked to Kevin at Vac. He mentioned his equipment syncs up very well with audio phisic. If you've read on many of the threads here on vac components, you will know what im talking about. I've never heard vac amps or preamps separately matched with other brand components. But i can truely say that i've witnessed a full blown vac system at shows and oh boy! What beautiful music.
tweak1
3,645 posts
 
Raysonic 168 has a killer tube output. The remote has volume control
bbro
191 posts
 
I have a Spectron Musician III SE amp (also) driving either Quad ESL 63s, Soliloquy 5.0s', or Magnepan 3.6/20Rs'. Over the past two years I have experimented with a host of tube linestages in my system including, Modwright SWL 9.0SE with tube rectification and modwright cap upgrade, Cary SPL 98 with direct coupling, deHalviland UltraVerve, the minmax pre, Odyssey Candella, and currently a Supratek Syrah. All of the tube amps were great and all mated well with and added to the Spectron but the Supratek is just special and an amazing synergy with the Musician III SE. If your partner doesn't mind its looks I recommend it highly. The Syrah has phono stage and remote. The Supratek Chardonnay is the linestage only and comes up on Audigon occasionally for ~ $1600-$1800.
More to discover