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Tube Pre-Amp Recommendation

Im new to this forum but have spent few months reading into posts. The more i read the more i get confused on my first purchase of a Good quality Tube Pre-amp. At this very moment I have always used Solid states pre-amp but after hearing the Audio Research Arc Ref 5 and 3 I am on the upgrade bug. Considering these units cost allot of money I need some suggestion if there are other Tube Pre-Amp which can either match similar levels to the Arc Ref 5 or better it.

I am not bothered about name brands or looks of the unit rather on how it presents the music to me.
I have not own a Tube Gear before in my life, and not sure on how to go about it. BTW I am in Indonesia (A British Expat Working and Living Here)

Demoing unit is out of the question here, even buying a unit here is so much more expensive then back at home In the UK. I prefer to Buy from USA (Will use a Power converter if needed)

My Current Setup is:
Speakers: Philharmonics 3
Amplifier: Audio GD Master 2 Series Mono Blocks (Will Upgrade Later to Krell, Macintosh or Pass)
CD player: Oppo 95 Using on Board DAC for the time being. Looking to upgrade later on for DAC
Room: Heavily treated, with Foam, Acoustic Panels, Bass Traps in all 4 Corners.

Budget less than 6000 Dollars.

Need Performance Level Matching that of Arc Ref 5Se or better.

Need suggestion and opinion on how to go about this. I prefer fasting sound more to neutral. Slight warm but not too much. I did find Cary SLP05 Pretty Warm, however on Ebay it slipped my fingers otherwise I was going to pull the trigger on that. I will being pairing this with Solid State Amplifier don’t want to get into Power Amps using Tubes for the next few years at least.

Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks Guys
dragon_vibe
westv12
3 posts
 
@ grannyring

No one is whining, to some people information is a key factor when making a purchase especially when a buyer is dropping $$$ on something they've never heard. Like you I appreciate a designer that takes pride in their product and taking the time to give some mandatory specs speaks volumes. It's the little things that show the designer looks at the little details that make a long lasting product. I've never heard the Dude, and I'm sure it sounds great, but there are many potential buyers who will immediately discount the product for lack of basic spec info.

I have some old gear that I've inherited from my father, hell he has some old gear that he still uses today; awesome build quality that's still going strong. These companies took pride in the little things and for me I expect that from any company that charges a high amount.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,467 posts
 
Westv12. I agree with you and love all of the service, advice and handling of the details I get with my small preamp builder. Priceless!
acman3
4,235 posts
 
It is rare for a craftman to also be a good businessman. Most craftsmen will be interested in getting the product right and not answering the phone/ emails and setting up a good website. Some will partner with a marketing person, but others are fine selling to a nich group of customers and keeping quality under control. I like working with craftsmen, and it will drive others crazy. You decide for yourself with your money.

Our company has opened 3 new offices in the past 4 years by word of mouth and providing good service. Believe it or not, this still works, and seems to be working at TRL and other small companies. People seem to respond to companies with craftsmen who love what they do, others need, and expect, more than that.

Btw, our website is a joke. We don't care.
westv12
3 posts
 
For the sake of future argument I sent my last post midday yesterday, seems the site is slow in posting
tonywinsc
583 posts
 
If I were shopping for a preamp, sound would be my top priority but not my only priority. It might be a hobby; but it is still a business transaction. I do not rotate equipment very often but I still consider resale value to be very important. Maybe I plan to keep it for several years; but things change and I might want to sell it after just a year or two. Is it going to sell, or am I going to take a bath on the deal to get it off my hands? What about safety and reliability? Does this device have the UL and/or TUV seal? Would I feel safe leaving this device on overnight while I sleep or leaving it on while I am out shopping or at work all day? How will I get it serviced 10 years from now? Will the manufacturer still be in business or will I have to hunt down a tech who is able to service it? How will this tech know how to service it without the technical schematics or specs? How do I know my unit sounds as good as all of the others that this manufacturer has built? Perception is everything in marketing a product. I feel excellence is a state of mind. It must be pervasive throughout the organization whether it is a one man outfit or a large company. So I cannot buy into the idea that a shabby website has no connection to the quality of the product. Maybe I will miss out on a gem or two with this mindset; but I'd say the odds are still in my favor. The converse is not true either. I won't let myself be lulled into buying a product based on a top notch store front or website without first investigating my other priorities for a product. (I have sold an item or two online and I quickly learned that presentation has a big impact on the final auction price.)
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