2. amps-preamps
  3. 161062-152187

Budget Tube Preamp ($2000)

Hello guys,
First post here!

I am in the market for a tube preamplifier for my current system, to add a bit of warmth. My budget is under $2000, the cheaper the better, Mainly looking at the used market (I love great deals). 
My build currently:
- Monitor Audio Silver 300 speakers
- Project Debut Carbon Turntable
- Marantz Cd5005 CD player
- Cambridge Audio Azur 851N
- Rotel RB 1582 Mkii Power Amp

If you guys have suggestions, I appreciate it a lot! For the inputs, if the preamp has XLR that would be great as I'm currently running my Azur 851N to my amp through a balanced connection and it sounds pretty good. This is not completely necessary though. 

Thanks!


128x128saltboy
saltboy's avatar
saltboy OP
2 posts
 
Hello everyone,

Thank you for all your suggestions. I decided to go with the Schiit Freya Plus as it fit my budget really well, and had the features that I was looking for. Planning on spending the extra money I had on rolling some 6sn7 :)

Thank you, everyone! shoutout to @georgehifi for the tip! 
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@saltboy

freya+ is good place to start

place it well, isolation wise... that unit and the tubes it uses can be quite microphonic... one of the downsides to tube units, this one is particularly susceptible
mariovidal65
34 posts
 
No doubts, Audio Research LS25 mk1!!!

Mario
richopp
760 posts
 
I picked up an Audio Research SP-6B for about 1100 and it is a wonderful pre-amp.

Cheers!
jkf011
292 posts
 
I can't believe no one has mentioned a used Conrad Johnson. The gold standard in tube preamps. 
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