Tekton Double Impacts

I would like to call out Response Audio as someone who makes great tube pre-amp..

@aniwolfe - Thanks for the preamp suggestion

@porcheracer - Thanks for mentioning the Don Sachs, I’m very curious how it sounds when you get it.

Truth be told I’m on the fence as to whether to add a tube pre-amp I don’t need, but may very much want for sonic reasons or maybe I should upgrade my Benchmark DAC2 HGC (which surprisingly, some here seem to hate viscerally, LOL, I’m just kidding.) to the AURALIC VEGA DAC which John Atkinson says sonically edges out the Benchmark DAC2 HGC (that btw he loves & so do I....hahah :-) ) by a smidgen.

or screw it all...& I’ll just get the Linear Tube Audio’s MZ2

@jcarcopo,

I looked at the LTA MZ2 and talked with some people I know and trust from another forum about it. Based on testing and critical listening, they are not fans of Berning's ZOTL design.

My main point of research became the deHavilland UltraVerve 3. Then, I was made aware of the Don Sachs preamp by someone here and on another forum I frequent. I could find no reviews, professional or private party, that were anything but positive for these two preamps. I feel like I could not go wrong with either one. The Don Sachs seemed like a better design overall and used more of the 6SN7 tubes of which I happen to 20 quality pairs. I like the fact the preamp was highly customizable for my specific setup.

Now I just have to wait for a while to get it. That is the price you pay for buying a custom made product from a person that has a decent amount of business.

I have already been told that the cap selection made for my preamp will require 100 hours of burn-in to start sounding right. Fun....

Hi Cleeds,
Yes I am aware of the ability to manipulate the volume control taper. My point is that in "practical" terms 35 db is an excessive amount of gain for particularly a preamplifier/line stage. If we differ on that point, we’ll okay. 35 db will be a problem in the vast majority of audio systems even with a controlled taper V.C, Al thanks for your input.
Charles

@charles1dad 

@cleeds already agreed that 35dB seems excessive for a line stage preamp....

Porscheracer,
I had suggested the Sachs, Dehavilland and the Atma-Sphere MP-3 a few weeks ago.  I felt that you couldn't go wrong with any of these.  I believe that you'll be very happy with your choice. 
Charles