2. amps-preamps
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Tube Preamps.....

I am running 2 GFA 565 Musical Comcepts modded Amps with Vandersteen 2ce v2. I am looking for a good quality tube preamp. With or without a built in dac. Should I stick with shopping for a used Mac? Or should I look at others also. Suggestions? Like to keep it under $3000. Could stretch to 3500. Thanks for your input. 
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Try to figure out what you want - lean, warm or lush?

+1 CJ is very good value not so good on resale if it doesn’t work for you. Mcintosh is a great classic sounding choice with good resale but higher priced because highly desirable - warm but not lush. VAC are lush but pricey. As Wolf mentioned, once you get a tube preamp then tube rolling can become an endless pursuit too...
jsm71
141 posts
 

I've had a McIntosh preamp, a Cary 6SN7-based preamp (selected over a CJ preamp), and now the LTA MZ2, also a 6SN7/12SN7 preamp. 

The MZ2 is far and away the best I've had, and a tube rolling funhouse.  You can tailor your tone preference with tube choice.

meiatflask
148 posts
 
@jsm71 - What about the LTA MZ2 jumped out for you as better than the Cary/CJ/Mac?  
sciencecop
180 posts
 
You really shouldn't drive that amp with a tube pream. The impedance mismatch will be detrimental 
judgmentday
22 posts
 
Freya with Russian 6N8S (NOS) tubes is only $699. Better yet with Tung-Sol 6SN7 and Octal LISST upgrade tubes for $959.00.

I'm told this Freya Preamp will kill any Audio Research or CJ offering. 
I have the Valhalla 2 tube heaphone amp and drives my Sennheiser HD650 beautifully. 
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