Preamp help please!

@coachpoconnor I hadn't read your entire op. NOS WE101D tubes will be very difficult to fine.  Forget about the Psvane WE unless you can find proper seller. The Linalai I spoke of will be great improvement in the qualities your seeking.

I can say this about the Statement pre. It is not in realm of warm, full sounding tube components. Far more about resolution/transparency. I had Israel upgrade mine to MkII status along with Amtrans volume selector, I further diy modded with Audio Note Seiryu film caps and Takman carbon film resistors, these replaced Nichicon Fine Gold and generic metal oxide respectively. The MkII upgrade along with the upgraded tubes will get you far more of traits you're looking for. AN and Takman added a bit more of these traits, above and beyond the MkII.

 

In this configuration i can't imagine anyone finding it lacking in traits your seeking. Greatest liability at present is relatively few choices in 101 tube.

I should add combo of Statement, First Watt and Klpsch Heritage won't provide max of sound traits you're seeking. I understand you heard more of these traits with Supratek vs Statement  in concert with your other existing components. Per previous post MkII and other upgrades will get you closer, as to vs Supratek, I can't say.

I don't know if should assume you were satisfied with Supratek/FW/Klipsch, but if you were, I'd first go for Linalai solid plate and see how far that gets you. Only then should you consider other pre's or upgrade of Statement.

 

The greatest deficiency I see in your present setup in providing for max of traits you're seeking is the FW. Klipsch Heritage and tube amps are much more sympathetic setup than SS. In defense of FW, it would be my first choice for SS and Klipsch Heritage. A 300B amp in combo with either of your present two pre's will provide all you're looking for.

 

I can only say my setup with Khorns, 300b or 845 SET's and Statement doesn't lack a single bit in traits you're seeking.

@sns I can only say my setup with Khorns, 300b or 845 SET's and Statement doesn't lack a single bit in traits you're seeking

I am very familiar with the 6SN7 tube and like it a lot,  however it is simply has quite a different sonic signature from the 101D.  Really two distinct characters  and presentation. Based on my own listening the 101d is the epitome of a linear, transparent very high resolution tube.

In my system paired with a very high quality 300b SET,  tonal body and timbre of instruments and human voice is superb. The 101D will beautifully preserve natural tone richness and color but will not gratuitously  contribute. So depending on the matching components and speakers in the signal chain one may or may not need some additional warmth or fullness. 

There are far more 6SN7 line stages/preamplifiers  available than there are 101D. Definitely excellent 6SN7 choices amongst them as well. 101D offers brilliant and pure  sound quality but it won't sound like a 6SN7, just 2 distinct sonic animals. 

Charles 

Coach:

I wasn't recommending Bottlehead (have not listened to any of their later gear), just suggesting units that do not bottleneck tube rolling.

The Cary should be fun (especially if you already have good 6SN7's on hand).

The few slightly negative SLP-98 reviews I've read involved the reviewer using stock/factory tubes (which I assume, @ the time, were inexpensive Russian 6SN7's).

My Bottlehead kit Foreplay preamp retailed for around $100+ @ the time (mine have dual Sweet Whispers volume pots) of its release and I generally prefer late 60's Mullard Blackburn 12au7's in it (often branded as Amperex World/Globe).

These tubes are not the cream of the crop (per reviews), but their synergy in my setup does make the the cream of the crop - per my taste.

However, when I run Ken-Rad dual flat plate 2A3's in my Paramour mono blocks I switch to a leaner sounding 12au7 in order to compensate for the FAT sounding Ken-Rad's.

Figured out what tubes sounds best with what tubes over the years and am still using the same 47 Labs OTA cables I started with approx. 20 years ago.

Love tube gear (tube rolling) to dial things in, though now good old production tubes have become a bit expensive, and I have little experience with new production tubes.

Once again, numerous tube rolling options have allowed me to keep/enjoy the same gear for the past (almost)20 years.

This said, I have been searching for a SS integrated to replace my tube gear for convenience, but it will have to have the 3D harmonically saturated sound that my current gear has.

I have a few inexpensive CD based mini systems that I listen to/enjoy often, but they cannot compete with laying on the couch and enjoying my DH/SET setup.

Another advantage of going SS for the main living room system is that I could use more traditional speakers, due to the additional wattage and get rid of my large/vintage Acousticraft cabs.

Years ago I ran Reynaud Twins MKII with an Audion 300B amp (great system) and would like to get back to something like that, but with SS.

I still have the heavy duty 29" Target stands I used with the Reynaud's (even though my wife has asked me to get rid of them numerous times over the years;-).

Had a nasty accident once (spiked my foot) when moving them, which may be the cause of her dislike.

Anyway, too much info and have fun with the new (old) cary.

PS:

My initial interest in the inexpensive LTA preamp/amp came from wondering if the amp section could properly power my vintage single driver speakers, but I've not read about anyone using it with vintage 16 ohm single drivers.

What I did discover is that (per reviews) it's a hell of a preamp for $1300 and it's easy on tubes.

 

DeKay

 

 

 

@dekay

Years ago I ran Reynaud Twins MKII with an Audion 300B amp (great system) and would like to get back to something like that, but with SS.

I can appreciate the desire to achieve this type of sound presentation with transistor components. Much easier said than accomplished.

Tactile palpability, true 3 dimensional soundstage presentation and organic tone quality are true challenges for many SS components despite their own strengths they bring to the table. Your prior Audion 300b will be hard to equal in those critical areas. You described it as "great system " for a very good reason. 😊

Best wishes to you.

Charles