2. amps-preamps
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Seriously considering tube preamp…opinions?

Tube virgin, here. I am building a system and I'm trying to contain the preamp/amp cost to $3k or so. (I could go up a little.) 

I'm inclined not to dive into tubes all the way through, but get a solid state on the output end. (Open to suggestions; inclined toward PS Audio, Parasound.) I'm reading around about tube preamps and have talked with my local dealer, who sells Black Ice/Jolida and Prima Luna (PL). He used to carry Rogue but said they kept coming back for repairs. That's why he carries PL.

I'm asking these questions after having established (via reviews, comments) that Schiit gear is quite the value. Lately, I've been reading about Decware and other small tube makers. I'm very curious about buying direct, if possible, and a company that stands behind their products is crucial.

So, your opinions about tube integrated or *especially* tube preamps —

1. Who do you like? Consider I want to do pre/amp for a total of $3k if possible.

2. Do you think PL is worth all that money just for a preamp? I get the feeling they're high quality but a bit over-hyped. (No disrespect to the highly passionate Kevin Deal, but he's all over my search results.) And what would you think about $2k/$1k preamp-to-amp spending ratio?

3. Any sense of what happened to Jolida since the name change to "Black Ice"? I see there's a sordid story there but did the re-branding clear up the mess? Any experiences with the Black Ice company?

4. I know there are many Schiit fans out there; so my question would be -- did anyone consider Schiit for tube preamp and go another way? Or move beyond Schiit for any particular reason? It's hard not to just capitulate and do a Freya+ or Saga+ but why wouldn't one just go with Schiit?




128x128hilde45
Post removed 
decooney
2,124 posts
 
+1 gotvinyl

There are two AI version "3.0" units on auction right now at $1200-1300.

A dear friend had one for many years. I always liked that preamp, 6DJ8 tube based too. Quality chassis, nice smooth volume control.  Had a pretty dark background too as I recall.  He ran it with a Roger Majesty RM-9 EL34 tube based amp and Shearwater Hot Rod speakers. Nice smooth tone, non-fatiguing, listened to it many times. He went through a few versions of different tube preamps to get to that one in the "3" version. Very Nice!    
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
http://www.audibleillusions.com/pricing/
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,006 posts
 
That’s a lot of money for an illusion. Just joking! ;-)

@tvad Sounds like a amp worth selling a kidney for. Then again...Reno Hifi, right?
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,006 posts
 
@tvad @decooney and all,
It's likely this thread is almost exhausted.
I'll just pose one final additional question.
* Assume, for the sake of argument, that you've convinced me to consider high quality solid state as an alternative to tubes. (This is a thought experiment.)
* Assume, also, that you've made me very curious about the Pass Labs INT-60 amp.
* Assume that I've looked into them and find $9000 too much for me, but that you've nudged me up to $6500, tops, for amplification.

QUESTION: Who do you think would be nearly competing, in solid state, with Pass Labs with this maximum price point (for new)?

I'm looking for a short list of makers you consider to be "nearly Pass labs" topping out around $6500, new.

When I look, I see things such as:

First Watt
Bryston
Hegel
Sugden
and many others.

So, in the upper tier, nearly in the same breath as Pass Labs but at a max $6.5k pricepoint, who makes your super short list?
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