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Advice on a preamp

I am looking to replace my preamp as part of my next upgrade(itis). I am currently using an Opera Consonance Reference50MkII tube pre into a Sanders Magtech Amp to drive Monitor Audio PL300 speakers (3 way, 4 ohm). Does anyone here have any good experiences with a particular preamp with the Magtech? I listen mainly to Classical, Jazz, Blues & Rock. Cheers
128x128shamus2211
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samzx12
1,219 posts
 
What is your budget? Want to stay with tube or go to SS?
shamus2211's avatar
shamus2211 OP
47 posts
 
Up to say USD $5000. I am not sure which way I want to go but probably prefer SS. However sound is everything :-)
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
Your Monitor Audio speakers are a fairly benign load on paper (90db @4 ohms) and sound transparent and quite resolving, so you don’t need a massively powerful amp, but the PL300’s need some tube-like liquidity & musicality. So i’m going to throw a curve ball at you and suggest you would get a bigger gain by selling your current amps & upgrading to a high end integrated amp such as a Pass Labs INT-250 or a 2nd hand Vitus SIA-025. Though good 2nd hand examples of the Vitus are rare on the used market.

The upshot is with one less component, you could use the savings to invest elsewhere in your system such as better cables or isolation.
mb1audio
151 posts
 
What are you expecting from the upgrade?
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