There is a super nice (used) Air Tight ATC-1 for sale on line. It has a MM phono stage. It is just fantastically built and sounds wonderful. I should know, I used to own it. I think they want 3500.00
Tube Preamp - What to buy?
Looking to take my first venture into the tube world and going with a tube preamp. My budget is up to $2500 and willing to buy used or new however realize with my budget that used is probably a better path. I would like to have a built-in MM phone stage. I am use to having a remote and tone controls, so that would be nice however not a necessity.
For further information my speakers are Revel Performa3 F206 and the current amp(s) is Conrad Johnson SA-250 and I also have a Rotel RB1552. I many be looking for an amp upgrade in the future, but one thing at a time.
So far I have been looking at used Audio Research and Conrad Johnson preamps but very open to opinions on brand and model. Thanks and I look forward to your opinions and experiences.
For further information my speakers are Revel Performa3 F206 and the current amp(s) is Conrad Johnson SA-250 and I also have a Rotel RB1552. I many be looking for an amp upgrade in the future, but one thing at a time.
So far I have been looking at used Audio Research and Conrad Johnson preamps but very open to opinions on brand and model. Thanks and I look forward to your opinions and experiences.
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- 78 posts total
@russbutton count down to reply from don ... four ... three... two... 😂😂😂 |
Definitely a used EAR 868PL with Phono and remote, or EAR 912 as mentioned above, they share the same line stage! EAR 912, if you are into Vinyl, but otherwise I wouldn’t bother to put the extra money into it. Buy four NOS Siemens PCC88 (7DJ8) and you got a killer preamp, that matches a lot of SS and tube amps👌🏻 |
Another plug for the RP-1. Get it new with warranty and then use the extra $$ to find a nice set of vintage tubes you like. As others have said the phono stage is worthy. I auditioned the Moon 110LP against the RP-1 internal and the Moon was not worth the spend. And that was with a Rega P6/Ania. I email Moon and they responsively help me dial in the LP for the Ania. I also called up Rogue and they helped me dial in the RP-1 for the Ania. So purdy confident I was not wildly misconfigurated. |
You will find that the selection of preamps with tonal controls and a built-in phono section to be very limited. If you could consider a line stage with an outboard phono preamp you will find a much larger selection to choose from. If you choose to go that way you can find a good solid used tube line stage and a decent used phono preamp that will equal or exceed most built-in phono preamps well within your budget. Just remember this when buying used tube equipment, many people who own tube equipment are tube rollers, usually when they sell there equipment they swap out there expensive and matched tubes for lesser quality and unmatched tubes thus reducing the sound quality of the equipment by sometimes a large margin. So be prepared to include in your budget the price of new tubes, which for preamps or line stages is not much but amps on the other hand is a different story. |
- 78 posts total