Preamp with tone controls other then McIntosh C22


Let me make a confession first. I'm one bad heretic. I use preamps with tone controls. Currently I have tube Mac C22 and it works quite well with my ss power amp. But as always hifi bug screams for improvement. I wonder if anybody can recommend tube preamps with tone controls other then Macs?
vad58
randy-11
Thanx, and yes I can't agree more - need to try it myself, applying major real estate formula: location, location, location - of components in the room I mean.
"Thanx, and yes I can't agree more - need to try it myself, applying major real estate formula: location, location, location - of components in the room I mean.

If you live in the US call The Cable Company. fatwyre.com. They're a Luxman dealer, and I'm sure they can send you a demo unit. But I still say get an EQ instead. Why limit yourself to a very small handfull of choices? The preamp is the single most important piece in your system that you need to get right.

I have a Behringer DEQ 24-96. You can get one for under $300. It has more options on it that you can ever need, and if you run it through your tape loop, you can completely bypass it at will. You can even connect it directly to a dac for better SQ.



Sorry my friend, I missed the "tube" part. :)

If you find a good pre with it, let me know! :)

I think tone controls always require extra gain stages to be implemented well, so any pre that has them may require more tubes. This would be interesting for me if I"m wrong.

Best,

E
sfall
Hi, actually I've heard about Behringer option from someone whom I know in person, but whose system I never listened to. What stopped me. I've been to a lot of audio shows and I never saw an equalizer incorporated in hifi system. Second, it's one more unit on a signal path. Third - EQ Is not a problem with SS preamp, but I do afraid that it can kill the musicality of tubes. Have to admit that it doesn't look like a good reasoning from smb who's interested in tone controls. But I definitely will try to test it. Thanx for the advice.