OP- compared to the Freya (with tubes), the Topping offered a little more clarity, and a little less bass "bloom".
Advice? Less than $4k, solid state preamp, neutral to gentle
There are many many posts about recommendations for preamps, so many to sift through that I thought getting a couple answers off the top of your heads might be ok to ask for.
Here's my situation: I am looking for a backup, solid state preamp to work with (a) Quicksilver mono block amps and (b) a Pass XA 25. I have (c) two DACs that I like, a Schiit Bifrost 2/64 and a modded-out MHDT Orchid. My speakers (d) are Ascend Acoustics Sierra Towers w/RAAL tweeters, and I have three subs.
My current preamps are both tube -- one is a 6SN7 preamp similar to an Ultraverve 3 and the other is a Quicksilver Line Stage.
I like having solid state alternatives to tube gear both to hear different sonic presentations and also in case I want to give tubes a break or if a tube goes bad.
I have tried autoformer preamps (more or less a straight wire with gain) such as the Bent Tapx and I don't like it on my system. I need a bit more.
If money was no object, I'd probably go drop $5k on an Ayre KX-5. That is a bit steep for me at the moment.
So, the question is: What solid state preamp, less than $4k, used or new, would you recommend to give a fairly neutral to warm/gentle presentation? Or that you simply like for reliability, interface, etc.?
Thanks.
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It is all about personal taste. According to Thomas (& Stereo), Pre90 is a colored preamp offering more forward, sharpening sound. When paired with a system that is already revealing, it might be too much of a good thing. It pushes the details almost to the limit. Some people might be impressed by it but others (including myself) might find it fatiguing after a few hours of listening. Other coveats include poor remote control (same remote across almost all topping gears) and the poorer SE performance. |
In my opinion, one you should consider is the Pass-Labs XP12. I personally have the XP-22 and I purchased an XP-12 for my daughter's system. In comparison to the XP-22 the XP-22 is a little quieter and slightly more dynamic, however the comparative sonics are quite close. The XP-12 is a very smooth and detailed preamp, built like a tank, very reliable and well designed. I believe used, you can find one for ~$4K or less. Good Luck in your preamp search !
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@tomcarr Thanks for the additional info. @liquidsound The XP-12 appeals to me in part because I really really like the XA-25 already. Not that Ayre would be a bad match, but perhaps a Pass-Pass match is a special one... |
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