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David Berning preamp..looking for suggestions

I am on a look out for a good tube preamp with preferably a reference grade phono stage inbuilt. I am moving from a tube amplification to solid state amplification primarily to feed my Tannoy Prestige with all the power it needs. In the process I dont want to end up in an all SS system which will be too much of a deviation. So I would love to have at least a tube preamp and if possible a tube phono too. I know it may ultimately involve using a SUT but I can take that much of a compromise (if at all). 

I am considering the Berning ZOTL-One preamp with in-built phono stage. There are many reviews of his power amp but not much about his preamp. Has anyone heard his preamp, any impressions (even second hand) would be very helpful.
pani
psag
518 posts
 
Don't listen to that nonsense about SMPS and digital hash/artifacts. Its all about implementation.
palasr
530 posts
 
lewm,

The EA-230 (great amp, btw) was the last Berning amplifier to use a linear power supply, so hearing switching noise from it would be impossible.  Every amp and preamp thereafter used SMPSs (we're talking the 1980's here, just to give you an idea of how advanced the man's thinking is).  I've used various Berning amps over the years, and the ZH270 is still one of the finest sounding amplifiers I've heard.
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
psag is spot on.  Its implementation.  David Berning makes some of the e st stuff I have ever heard.  He makes some of the best stuff anyone has heard.  
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lewm
13,537 posts
 
Palasr, Thank you for the correction regarding the EA230.  I was just guessing at the model name, when I told the story about the Berning amplifier that produced the clicking noise on the speakers, when it was too close to the Modulus preamplifier. Apparently I got that part wrong.  For sure, then, it was some later model that did use a switching supply.  Actually, the model name is not so important as the point I was trying to make, with which no one seems to disagree:  DB knows his stuff, designs and manufactures excellent gear that is usually novel in some way or other.
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