2. amps-preamps
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Tube Preamp - What to buy?

Looking to take my first venture into the tube world and going with a tube preamp.  My budget is up to $2500 and willing to buy used or new however realize with my budget that used is probably a better path. I would like to have a built-in MM phone stage.  I am use to having a remote and tone controls, so that would be nice however not a necessity.  

For further information my speakers are Revel Performa3 F206 and the current amp(s) is Conrad Johnson SA-250 and I also have a Rotel RB1552.  I many be looking for an amp upgrade in the future, but one thing at a time. 

So far I have been looking at used Audio Research and Conrad Johnson preamps but very open to opinions on brand and model.  Thanks and I look forward to your opinions and experiences.  
speter04
pointtrucking
33 posts
 
Why you guys keep Recommending Rogue audio preamp. Rp 1-7.  These are awful.  Go for Modwright or Cary
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,151 posts
 
+1 @donsachs You make a great preamp which is a stone cold bargain when compared to anything that might be considered competition.

Oz
mirage-71
10 posts
 
Hey there 

I would strongly consider 

Primaluna Dialogue tube pre amp.
for the price its very hard to beat even at 2 times the cost !

Good luck 
linnlp12
79 posts
 
I concur with the recommendations on EAR.  Just picked up an 868PL.  Wanted to see if the hype was real.  As a previous poster stated I put some Siemens/Holland NOS tubes in (it actually had 6DJ8 types there from factory).  Biggest pleasant surprise of my life.  For me the hype is confirmed real.  Dan Meinwald has been very patient with my questions so I can also state great customer support.  I also researched Troels Graveson pages on these EAR preamps.  Give this preamp my highest recommendation. You will get lots of opinions, overwhelming.   Suggest give this a listen, you may discover a real gem.  
Ag insider logo xs@2x
kingbarbuda
514 posts
 
This is peripherally related to the OP, but in follow up to my post above, I just switched out the Raven Blackhawk Mk3.1 and replaced it with one of the years biggest hifi bargains IMO the Boyuurange A50 Mk3 300B SET integrated amp. Now I got done playing the Raven Blackhawk today through a Steely Dan list and played it, for me, relatively loud. The Raven is super articulate and has plenty of power. I love that amp. Now granted it is nighttime and I am playing the Boyuurange A50 at lower SPLs, but even at low levels this baby can image! I think, yes, possibly better than the Raven. Yes I said it. Now I will confirm tomorrow when I play the A50 at similarly loud levels with the Steely Dan playlist and some others. But tonight I felt the Donald Fagan was on his Fender Rhodes right in front of me in the room. Bill Evan’s trio? Same thing. The holographic soundstage and imaging this A50 produces is amazing and addictive. Is it the A50 or is this typical of all 300B SET amps? But at $883.20 with the current 5% off coupon on Amazon, no other 300B can beat this. Take another 5% off if you have a Prime credit card and it just keeps getting better. Just amazing, and amazing for the dollar. I think this is a really instructive pair of amps. The SET 300B A50 and the push pull Raven Blackhawk Mk3. More to come when I crank the A50 tomorrow. But meanwhile, if you have a little less than $900 plus sales tax burning a hole in your pocket, I can’t think of a better way to use this cash than on this Boyuurange A50 Mk3 300B SET Integrated from Amazon. Which leads me to another recent bargain of 2021, the Sony SSCS5 bookshelf speakers. These are currently $148 on Amazon. But recently I picked up a pair for only $73! If these go back to $73 and you pair them to the A50, that is a little killer system for no money. Just fill in with a digital front end and some cables and that is a nice system with some main pieces that are bargains for the SQ and the money.
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