2. amps-preamps
  3. 123612-9095

Preamp... Solid State or Tube

I am looking for 2-ch preamp that must have HT bypass option to mate with my existing HT processor.  

My budget is 10K for this upgrade.  Couple of preamps comes to mind but I have no experience with these components.  

Ayre KX-5 Twenty
Aesthetix Calypso 
 
My system consist of following components, 

Speakers - B&W 800D2
Source - Aurender N10,  Modwright Elyse DAC, Raysonic CD-128
Amps - Modwright KWA150SE (Pair of them being used in bridge mode)
Processor - Krell 707
Cables - Verastarr Grand Illusion Statement and Signature series

Any recommendations will be highly appreciated. 

128x128lalitk
adg101
1,063 posts
 
My last post started to response to maplegrovemusic post above
lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,570 posts
 
@adg101, I appreciate your insight on DiD's and thank you for your feedback.

lancelock
1,094 posts
 
lalitk,

the ZTPre has an introductory price of $3735 and will go up soon after. You can also audition for 30 days and return.
david12
1,454 posts
 

 Another vote for Modwright. I tried the LS 100 and 36.5 and the latter was clearly better. I also tried an ARC Ref 3 about the same time and preferred the 36.5 at a good saving.

 The two box version of the 36.5 is a clear step up to the one box version. Unfortunately, the dealer told me you can not upgrade from the one to the two box version. I would love to hear it against the ARC ref 5SE. It is about £2000 cheaper than the ARC, in the UK. I suspect it is better or at least as good. I have heard both, but not side by side. I run the 36.5 into the ARC Ref 75SE, but I have run tube Pre's into SS Power units in the past and very much like the combination.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,861 posts
 
Back to preamp, I am looking for fully balanced circuitry from input to output.
You've not mentioned if you need a phono section.

Our MP-3 (which is fully balanced-differential and all-tube) would fit the bill and is known to work quite well with the Modwright amps. There is no HT bypass; you merely set the volume control to a particular position (which is essentially what the HT bypass does) and you are good to go.

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