Ohm Walsh Micro Talls: who's actually heard 'em?

Rebbi - I also vote tube preamp. My C-J PV-11 mates well with my Odyssey Audio SS power amp. You might be able to find a nice C-J PV-5, 6, 11 or 12 within your budget. Look for one with a phono stage if you can find it. The MM phono stage in my PV-11 is very good. Other brands in your price range, used, are Rogue, ARC, and Audible Illusions.

IMHO, if you can't afford something decent right now, buy a cheep SS pre used (NAD, Rotel, etc.) as a place holder, and sell it when you have more cash for a better tube preamp.

Bondmanp:

Somebody's got a Rogue Metis up for sale at around $700 right now. Any thoughts?

I've heard a Rogue tube power amp with my ARC pre-amp on a dealer system running Maggie 20.1s that I wouldn't have minded owning.

Then on the way out I heard a Rogue integrated running smaller Maggie mmg's that I was not impressed with.

That's about the extent of my Rogue experience though unfortunately.

Rebbi,

While a good SS preamp will probably sound quite good with the Bel Canto, I agree that tubes in your line stage might lend some welcome "body" to the overall Ohm/Bel Canto picture. If you can find an old Dynaco preamp (try for a PAS-4) that's not too noisy, it could be a cost effective solution for you. They sound very good, trade at reasonable prices (I've seen them offered below $500), and the simple circuitry/construction bodes well for the long haul.

Good Luck

Rebbe, another "pre-amp" that popped into my mind that might be worth considering is the PeachTree Decco. These can be had for under $500. It is a well reviewed (low power) hybrid integrated with tube DAC actually, but I'm thinking (not sure though) it might be used as a pre-amp only if desired. You would use digital out from your CD player (assuming that exists also) into the Decco. Phono would connect same as any other pre-amp. IF my assumptions are true, themn this would be the least expensive "high end" pre-amp solution I can think of.

Now HERE'S an interesting possibility. Peachtree is selling refurbished Deccos for $499. My Music Hall CD 25.2 has a digital (TOSLINK) output and the Decco has a digital input, plus 2 analog inputs... that would make one for my outboard phono stage and one for my tuner. And yes, the Decco has stereo preamp outputs... in fact, I believe the Decco is being used by lots of "audiophile" types as a preamp, ignoring the power amp section altogether.

Thoughts?