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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. 
pstores
jsm71
141 posts
 

@sciencecop - If the preamp's output impedance is too high for the amp you risk rolloff at the frequency extremes.  This does need to be considered.

The LTA MZ2's output impedance is 2 ohms, unheard of for a tube preamp and another benefit of its design.  This is basically SS territory.  It will work with any amp.

wolf_garcia
6,794 posts
 
I personally don’t get the LISST tube thing for the Freya as there are already 2 non tube stages built into it, although higher gain or fear of tubes may be the reason…in any case I’ve settled on NOS Sylvania "chrome domes" in the first tube stage with the new Tung Sols in the second position…I’m not certain that the Freya "kills" CJ or Audio Research preamps as I don’t have those to compare it with, but if it does it makes me feel like a real smart audio component chooser, which is good, and owners of any other preamps shouldn’t feel bad…maybe you simply didn’t know…
judgmentday
22 posts
 
I personally don't get the LISST tube thing for the Freya as there are already 2 non tube stages built into the thing, although higher gain or fear of tubes may be the reason…in any case I've settled on NOS Sylvania "chrome domes" in the first tube stage with the new Tung Sols in the second position…I'm not certain that the Freya "kills" CJ or Audio Research preamps as I don't have those to compare it with, but if it does it makes me feel like a real smart audio component chooser, which is good, and owners of any other preamps shouldn't feel bad…maybe you simply didn't know…

I may get the Audible Illusions M3B or the L3A line stage, but I want to try the Freya first. One can buy the Freya for $699 and buy better tubes later.  They are like $20 a piece, not big deal. 
yohimey's avatar
yohimey
25 posts
 
 For the adcom amp recommend Rogue Audio Perseus magnum built in phono as well, used for around 1400.00 usd  you could roll the tubes all 4 are 12au7 , so no mix and matching headaches, but the jj tubes that it come with sound amazing as well.I dont do dacs , just a palystation 1 for cd duties that to my ears trounce my  marantz cd 6005 cd player, and you can get one of the p.s. for 40-50 bucks! Must be the scph-1001 version as it has the rca output jacks! Save your money for more music...
lancelock's avatar
lancelock
1,107 posts
 
@judgementday,

I sold my AI MB3 when I found that my MZ2 was a superior sounding preamp even though it doesn’t have as much functionality. The one outstanding thing about the AI MB3 was the incredible John Curl phono stage. My solution was the buy a Parasound JC3+ for phono and use the MZ2 as a line stage.

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