2. amps-preamps
  3. 171837-10169

Best Tube PreAmp - McIntosh vs. Audio Research vs. VAC vs. Atma-Sphere

I’m in the market for a Stereo Tube Preamplifier for around $5k-8k in a used market. The reason I want a Tube PreAmp is because I love listening to Male Vocals with smooth velvety sound of Tube.

I will eventually be integrating it into a HT setup. When I’d Parasound Halo A51 5-channel Amp, I typically listened to Music 30% & watched movies 70% of the time. You never know but the % might change after I get the Tube PreAmp.

Source: Oppo BDP-105, Nakamichi RX-505 tape deck

Amplifier: Luxman m900u

Speakers: Tyler Acoustics Linbrook System II Floorstanding (89db, 8 ohms)

My question to you is which PreAmp would you recommend & why? I would prefer feedback from someone who has done some sort of comparison with atleast two of the following or similar type of PreAmps. I understand more you spend, more you get for your money. But I would prefer to stay at the lower spectrum of my price range than the higher.

  • McIntosh C2600 / C2700
  • Audio Research Reference 6 / 6SE / 40th Anniversary
  • Atma-Sphere MP1 / MP3
  • VAC Signature / Rennaisance / any other model
  • Cary Audio SLP-05 / any other model
  • PS Audio BHK Signature
  • Allnic L-9000 / L-7000

Later on the plan is to build a HT system & will add Amp for surrounds & center.

hitsofmisses
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,881 posts
 

Things not mentioned so far which might be good:

AudioNote
deHavilland
Herron 
Don Sachs
SupraTek

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,868 posts
 

ARC small signal tubes  will go 3-4k hours but the 6550 is 2 k hours, or less. Small signal are about $100 a tube, ref5 has 5, the 6 more... The 6550 from ARC is around $100.

If i were you, i would get a SS Mac and IF staying HT, never look back...

erik_squires
15,944 posts
 

CAT uber alles.

reubent
6,939 posts
 

If you're seriously thinking of using using in a combo 2-channel/HT system, you might want to consider the Backert Labs Rhumba 1.3. It has HT Bypass mode that is activated when you turn the unit off, so the tubes are not losing life while you're watching TV/Movies. There may be other pre-amps that have this feature, but I'm not aware of them.

jbrrp1
423 posts
 

I have some relevant experience with some the pre's and your amp.  I ran the Luxman M900u for a couple of years - - very nice amp, but I definitely thought it benefited from partnering with a tube preamp; otherwise it was a little too "gossamer" for my system and tastes.  When I bought the amp, I was using the PS Audio BHK preamp, but I bought the amp with the C900u.  The C900u clearly showed me that there was a good bit more to be had than the BHK was giving me in terms of musical information.  I sold the BHK and haven't look back on that.  But over the longer haul the C900u with the M900u just didn't light my fire, sounding a bit thin and "see through" (I run TAD CR-1 speakers, which do need some warming to shine right).  Then I tried an ARC Ref 40 and I found this to be a synergistic combo, bringing a "fleshier" sense to the music.  Just my experience, and YMMV.

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