2. amps-preamps
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Tube preamp with great pace?Cary, Supratek, etc.?

I am thinking seriously of moving to a tube preamp with the hope of breathing more life into my system. But I love the rhythmic core of music - call it PRAT, call it whatever - it is what grabs me, involves me, and keeps me up way, way too late listing to old LPs. I am afraid that without good, acurate pace, I don't care how "airy," "organic" or "blooming" the sound is, it just isn't musical to me. But if it can be combined with great pace, the tube sound is exactly what I am looking to add to my system.

So far, I've only been able to borrow a Rogue Magnum 88 to try in my system, and it was just too slow. I am considering a Cary SLP 98P, a Supratek Chenin, or perhaps a Herron VTSP1A/166. If anyone has heard these or any other tube preamp with good pace, please comment. Comparisons between them would be particularly welcome. My price range right now is 2K to 3K used, but if you know of something that is wonderful in this regard that costs more, I still want to hear about it.

There are few tube options available for me to audition in my area, and so generous Audiogoners, your input is greatly appreciated.

P.S. If you live in south-eastern Michigan and have a tube amp you are willing to let me hear, I offer in exchange lunch at the Ann Arbor restaurant of your choice.
newmanoc
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
If you know exactly what you are looking for sonic wise then you absolutely need to audition the equipment first or buy used and resell if it is not what you are looking for. People such as myself will give you opinions on what they like or hear but only you can make the decision on what you like or don't like. And for that my friend you need to audition in your system.

Chuck
reb1208
518 posts
 
Cary SLP-2002 will give you the speed and rhythm of solid state. While providing the air and ambience of tubes. True balanced differential 4 line amp design.
jay_douglas_2879b79
239 posts
 
the 'pace' of recorded music is affected far more by your loudspeaker and the recording, than your amp or preamp. pretty much any quality amp ss or tube has the 'rhythm' thing down with a well matched speaker system. the material and driver/ribbon type also generally make a difference. also equipment which empasizes 'highs' and upper mids and 'sweeten' the female voice always sound faster and more open than ones that emulate the 'weight' of live music (real sounding drums, piano, organ,etc. and may not be as 'open' sounding.
newmanoc OP
295 posts
 
Jay, my ears tell me differently. Yes, the ultimate source of pace is the source material - no audio gear can put in what the musicians left out. But anything else in the audio chain can kill good PRAT. You are right, poorly matched speakers and power amp can do it easily. But not all tube preamps - even some of those that are highly regarded - do pace equally well, or even adequately in my opinion.
jay_douglas_2879b79
239 posts
 
all i'm saying is that i can't name any 'quality' preamps that don't have good prat. its simply inherant in all 'classic' components. accuphase, levinson,arc,mac,bryston,vac,cj,cary, naim....and yes...lots and lots more. i think the ability of any real hi end amp and preamp to deliver prat as well as tonal accuracy, with a wide variety of source components isn't that tough, provided they are well matched with speakers. unless you are purchasing some esoteric product with no track record or history whatsoever, there has never been a larger plate to choose from (even in michigan) then now. the reason naim is so synonomous with prat has more to do with system synergy than any exclusive attribute. trust your ears indeed, just don't believe that most respected hi end companies have somehow overlooked rhythm.
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