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?




hilde45
brotw
103 posts
 
Glad to see you mention Tekton. The Double Impact thread caught my attention 2 years ago and fortunately I was ready for new speakers and amplification given a bad class D experience. Quickly learned that sensitive speakers were the way to go for tubes and purchased the Direct order Tekton DI's unheard. Terry London is spot on in his reviews. 

+1 with Waltersalas on the 48W SET integrated LM508ia, used ~ $3k Nice thing is you can add a preamp and use the LM508 as a stand alone amp in the future via line in to squeeze the last bits of transparency and soundstaging. On that note, room treatments and dsp should be factored if your a room correction believer.
mesch
3,530 posts
 
+3 on the speaker change. I surly would like to hear them myself. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,445 posts
 
@tvad The speaker change was meant to open up options at commensurate or greater quality. I wasn’t trying to lower quality on the amp front! E.g., locally, I have choices between lower and higher powered QS, Rogue, Octave, Black Ice/Jolida, and more to audition. On the used or internet market, the options also now multiply. Many times, folks have posted amps which seemed great but made me wonder if my speakers would have enough power; other times, folks posted amps with enough power but with a price tag greater than pretty much my whole system budget. I was attempting to address those issues with the speaker change.

decooney
2,358 posts
 
After multiple focused in-person listening sessions, you'll begin to zero in on your sweet spot of where you want to be financially and musically.  
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,445 posts
 
Also Dared Saturn is local option, too.
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