2. amps-preamps
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Pure analog system with high power

Dear Hifi lovers, I introduce myself, I'm new to this forum. 
I need your marvellous experience in order to choose my next gear. I currently have a Rega Brio amp driving a pair of Wharfedale Evo 4.2 and I'm looking for a big step up, starting for now from the amp.
I am a vinyl lover, I basically play just lps. I also added a Rega Aria phono stage.
Now what I'm looking for is a kind of purist's solution, don't need to pay for dacs, or particolar digital inputs or functions. I want an integrated, or separated amp+pre is also well appreciated, capable of at least 150W in 8 ohm / 250W in 4 ohm as sooner or later I'll buy for sure some Magnepans, maybe the .7, or anyway some Harbeth's. My aim is to get the best money value for my purpouses, that's why I was mentioning a pure analogue solution. Anyway I accept also recommendations based on gears with dacs or digital inputs as that's the market now. Prefer new stuff but also used is fine. Budget is around 3.500/4.000 dollars. Thanks in advance to all people willing to share some knowledge and sorry if something wasn't clear, you can ask me any kind of questions!
adversam
adversam OP
73 posts
 
@dhite71 thanks for your sharing o  Audio Research, i will check for sure the used market, it won't be easy as in Eu is more difficult to find these gears than in US. The Ref 3 is something i have at the top of the list, I'd buy it in case of a good offer
smrex13
645 posts
 
@adversam To be honest, I don't know too much about tube preamps, as I haven't used separates too often.  I can only mention a few manufacturers who have a reputation for producing good tube preamps:

1.  Aric Audio:  He's a small operation here in the US, but he is very responsive to customers.  His preamps are praised by nearly everyone who owns one.  His Transcend 6SN7 Linestage retails for $2165.  

2.  Primaluna:  Their new EVO series 100 preamp retails for $2100 here in the U.S.  There are also bargains to be had on the used market with Primaluna gear.  Their website is quite informative.  

3.  Rogue Audio:  An American company that produces a wide range of tube preamps.  They get good reviews, and their RP-1 retails for about $1800 here.

I'm sure others will share many more possibilities.  One quick note on compatibility between separates - the input impedance of the power amp should be at least 10 times the output impedance of the preamp.  For example, the Primaluna EVO 100 has an output impedance of 2800 ohms, so you would want a power amp with an input impedance of at least 28K ohms.  

Cheers,Scott
ghdprentice
7,272 posts
 
@dhites “To continue on rfnoise's promotion of Audio Research....”

Me too. Too long a list for me as I first got an inexpensive ARC preamp... then phonostage... and now all ARC gear. The span of time from first component to all was 40 years. I could have taken a more direct path if I had zeroed in on all ARC from the beginning... and of course, had more money when I was younger.
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
audio research and conrad johnson

longtime stalwarts of the high end tube amplification scene... as i like to say, when a company like this has been this successful continuously, for so long, it cannot be because they have been stealing deaf people’s money for all these years! :)

others hot companies come and go, but these two, now into second generation of management/ownership still carry the banner proudly ... they can be said to be expensive (they are) and ’the safe play’ (perhaps) but their quality build, their beautiful sound, their excellent support, makes sure customers past and present do get what they pay for ....
adversam OP
73 posts
 
@smrex13 thanks again for the great inputs, both primaluna100 and rogue rp 1 are on my list now
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