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Somebody Help Convert me to tubes

I first want to thank everyone that has been so helpful over the years. This forum and equipment site has been great.

Here is my dilemma. The first bunch years in this hobby my taste (and perhaps ignorance) has led me to pursue every last ounce of detail from a system, but after spending some time with some tube product, I am starting to prefer the more "listenable" type of equipment.

What I am looking for is for someone to help me with a step in this new direction. I am thinking of starting with a new preamp. Please don't recommend dumping everything I have and start over, I can't afford that, and besides I very much enjoy my system and I am looking for small changes at a time and to learn and appreciate the differences. I am also looking for a piece that if over time I like the way my system was, I can easily pass it on to another A'goner. My equipment is as follows:

Thiel 2.4 speakers
ML 27.5 amp
ML 36S DAC
ML 38S Pre
Theta Data Basic II Transport
Kimber Select (1111 and 1120)
Transparent Plus Speaker cables
Synergistic AC Master Coupler on Trans and Amp
Transparent Power cords on DAC and Pre

Thank you for your assistance once again.
dewinkle
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
Dewinkle

I would recommend a conrad johnson premier tube pre-amp something like the 17 or maybe a 16 or older 14. Not sure what your budget is. The rest of your system looks to be very good. A tubed pre-amp from cj would make your system much more musical in my opinion.

Chuck
jw94055
125 posts
 
Get a tube preamp, keep the ss power amp. Cary, VAC, ARC, Mac, etc. get an amp from a company that has been around for awhile as it seems a lot of hifi equipment companies come and go. In the past, there have been posts about matching a tube pre to a ML amp. I will defer advise on that to others.
lousyreeds1's avatar
lousyreeds1
286 posts
 
Welcome to the world of tubes! Is there a budget?

How about any of the Lamm pre's?

Audio Aero Prima DAC?
bignerd100
515 posts
 
A good tube preamp paired with your SS gear should make a big differance. The tubes don't need replacing that often, they are not that expensive to replace or to try different tubes, and you get most of the benefits of tubes without the drawbacks of tube amps vs SS amps.

Try anything from Audible Illusions. The Modulous 3A is spectacular but no remote (I do like that little convenience in life).

Jolida now has preamps as well if you wanted a good platform for modifications.

Good luck.
bluebull
269 posts
 
Dewinkle

Why do you need help to convert...just do it !!
Check which tube pre amps are comatible with ML power(imp and voltage outputs and sonically as well.)

Going in the right direction.....

Chris
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