2. amps-preamps
  3. 1059992140

Value of inexpensive linestage preamps?

Hi,

After a brief period away from "hi-end audio" I have started building a system again. Because of budget constraints I am having to do it one piece at a time. I recently got a good deal on a Conrad Johnson Premier 11A. Unfortunatly I don't have a proper preamp and won't be able to afford one for a while. I am currently using my hometheater receiver (Denon 5800) in "direct" mode as my preamp, the sound is not terrible. My question is, would one of the small, simple $300.00 to $400.00 tube preamps be worth spending my money on while saving for something better? Would the improvement over the Denon be worth the expence?

Emilio
emiliop
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
I don't have any experience with DIY, but you might consider a used c-j PV10 or PV11L. They show up here pretty often. (My PV11 will probably show up here next year, but you probably don't want to wait that long!)

Either of these would give you a significant boost vs. the Denon. I've had mine since 1991 and it never fails to satisfy.
ohlala
1,235 posts
 
Oh sure, a used tube preamp, even in that range, actually can be a large improvement over a receiver. With used, you still have your few hundred dollars, just in preamp form.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
Even an inexpensive tube preamp will probably increase the level of refinement of your system over the Denon.

However, if your system can accommodate it [i.e. enough output voltage from the source and input impedance of the amp] an inexpensive passive preamp might fit the bill as well.

For the last few months I have been experimenting with the Antique Sound Labs T1 DT and a Luminous Audio AXIOM passive preamps along with my reference Blue Circle BC21 tube preamp. At $399 and $150 brand new respectively, they are both quite the bargain, and have shown me what the Blue Circle has added sonically to the overall presentation.

Both passive pres mate very well with my other components and pass along a very full, dynamic and extended sound. However, the warmth and dimensionality of the BC21 is missing from both.

But at $150 [I paid a few bucks more for the upgraded resistor] I'm definitely keeping the AXIOM. I like it a lot!
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