2. amps-preamps
  3. 154000-1608

Considering going back to Solid State

I have had and Audio Research REF5se now for a few years and love it. Let me be clear, I love the sound and am not wanting to trade back to SS for anything it does wrong. But I am wanting to simplify and get away from tubes and the heat and concern for hours, etc.

So I am seeking advice in the 10-15K range on solid state pre-amps that would be comparable in performance to what I now have. Considering the Ayre 5 series, SimAudio Moon, McIntosh as a few considerations. Which brings me to you, any experience that you have had making a similar comparison would be helpful.

The rest of the 2 channel side is a Mc402 Amp and Revel speakers, how ever in the next month I plan to either buy the Sopra 2's or the Sonus Olympica Nova III, all cardas wiring in case this helps.


Thank You in advance

Theo

128x128theo
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,837 posts
 
I should have written in my last sentence: " the rest is OFTEN, not all the times for sure,illusive electronics marketing ploys" out of respect for at least half of what is written in articles... But my main idea is unchanged....All cats cannot be in the same bags indeed....
ejr1953
895 posts
 
I had a McIntosh C50 (solid state preamp) paired with my McIntosh MC452 (solid state power amp), and had the opportunity to audition a McIntosh C2500 tube preamp, and found that it had a slightly more "musical" tone, especially with acoustic instruments.

One of my audio buddies let me know that tubes in the preamp, handling low power signals would last a long time, his were 9 years old and not in need of replacement.

I sold the C50 and upgraded the C2500 to Gold Lion tubes and am very happy with the way it pairs with my other equipment!
toetapaudio
474 posts
 
Suggested shortlist: Bakoon, Grandinote, Trilogy.
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
+1 @toetapaudio  Also nice to see mention of Grandinote which is under the radar here in the U.S.
timlub
2,039 posts
 
I had 2 pre's come to mind instantly. I have sat in front of both of them many times. These 2 have very similar characteristics and sound more alike than different. One has been repeatedly mentioned here, that is the Coda 07x. The second is the Spread Spectrum Technologies (SST) Ambrosia. 
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