2. amps-preamps
  3. 1115935539

Tube Pre-amp recommendations for Maggie 3.6

Hey folks,

Ok, it's time to focus on the pre-amp. You gave me good advice on the amps, and I took your input into serious consideration during my buying process.

The system is:

Magnepan 3.6
VTL MB 450 monoblocks
Shanling CD T200A CD/SACD
VTL 2.5 pre
analog - TBD

By the way, everything was purchased used on Audiogon.

So, you can see I'm definitely liking the whole tube thing.

I'm thinking of up-leveling the pre-amp, which, by the way, is quite wonderful.

So, where do I go from the VTL 2.5? I want to stay with tubes.

My thoughts are:

VTL 5.5 -I've had excellent luck with VTL so far.
Viva Linea 300 -heard it, absolutely love it!
And of course..... Supratek..... which comes exclusively and maniacally recommended through the Audiogon Underground (1,814 responses to a single post can't all be wrong).

Is there any place in the Western US (preferrably the West Coast) that even carries Supratek (for audition/purchase), or is the only avenue to go directly through Mick the owner?

Your thoughts are welcome!

Thanks
angelsmtn
angelsmtn OP
12 posts
 
Hi,

I have one follow-up question to my original post. The VTL 5.5 is a dual mono design. I understand the theory and value of dual mono design in an amp; my previous amp was such. But does this design really offer appreciable benefit in a pre-amp? Does separating the signal paths really make that much difference? My thought is that more pre-amps would be made this way if it made a bigger difference. With pre-amps, I see more logic in separating out the power supply as many high-end units do.

Thoughts?
angelsmtn OP
12 posts
 
Hey Markone,

Thanks for the data point. Can you expand on what you mean by "tonally superior?"

Thank you
russschaeffer
34 posts
 
Have you played with different cables? What isn't your system doing now that you would like it to do?

Thanx,
Russ
markone8a55
30 posts
 
I suppose the hi-fi term is called "timbre".
The VLT 5.5 was giving me a "truer facsimile of the real thing"; vocals & instrumentation sounded more real/true.
The 5.5 was far more open; had more "air" in between the instruments, etc. Hope this helps. At the end of the day, I enjoyed the music a lot more because of it sounding more real.
bat21
21 posts
 
I would strongly recommend a BAT VK30se or beyond (balanced.com),McIntosh C2200, Aesthetix Calypso +, Audio Research, Conrad-Johnson. USE CAUTION with the Vk-50 series and higher, they only have balanced in/outs.

Maybe Atmosphere.

I think your ears will answer the dual-mono vs traditional. But I can say this it does make for a nice sound (dual-mono) and keeps noises and junk down or out. The VTL 5.5 is not truly balanced as I was told by an E.Engineer.

My Fav. system (beyond my own) is a full VTL set-up with the MB-450s and a 5.5 pre. What a system you have or will have.
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