2. amps-preamps
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Building a new system after many years away, need some suggestions ... !

Thanks for the help all.... All opinions welcomed !!!

I have been away from high end audio for 10+ years but my wife expressed intreest in collecting vinal. I bought my wife a turntable ATLP-7 and of course you know what happened... and here I am. The reason I was away for some time is I am a pretty accomplished musician and I have a recording studio with state of the art digital recording, Apogee Digital, Neve , Avalon, and API etc... class A preamps and speakers (top of the line Focals etc..) but man somehow records still sound so magical, almost like nothing is between you and the live analog microphone feed.

I used to own a Audible Illusions M3A, Quicksilver M60 monoblocks, silver audio cable and Vandersteen’s but sold it when I moved to buy my bigger house.

I have some active speakers and the turntable for her now need a real preamp etc...but want to put a full system together again with some floor standing speakers (full range not necessary) Polk r700’s ?

I was wondering if the tube pre’s were still worth it with tech coming pretty far in the last 10 years. I imagine the SS measures better now. Im open to differnt opintions. In the end for her and I it’s more about that enjoyment more than me feeling like I’m mastering something.

 

Of course I’m looking at the Audible 3B but it's a lot of spend on a pre but will.... I do think I want to go SS on the Power Amp this time but again open. Currently have an old Rotel here that may get used for a bit as I get the speakers and other pieces together.

 

Any suggestions welcomed !

 

Thanks !

John

sozocaps
jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl
990 posts
 

Look into Bryston for solid state power amplification. 

knotscott
932 posts
 

Everything improves in incremental steps over time, but physics and marketing doesn’t really change much, so things aren’t vastly different IMO, other than that outboard phono stages and DACS are more plentiful than ever, and there are more digital options.

If you had a taste for tubes and high end speakers before, I’d suggest going with tubes again, and upping your speaker selection....even if you have to aim for smaller speakers to stay in budget and get the midrange/treble transparency right, then add a sub later on as needed. Not only have tubes been part of all the best systems I’ve heard over the years, but you can also roll different brands and types to fine tune the presentation exactly to your liking. That’s not saying I haven’t owned or heard SS electronics I’ve liked, but none that move me the way good tubes do on really transparent speakers.

As always, I’d be speaker shopping first for something you love. Vandersteens are still around and still very relavent.  I think you can and will want better than Polk after what you previously owned. Good used speakers might a valid choice. Once that decision is made, find your power. Maybe a good integrated tube amp with a good outboard phono stage would fit the bill. Willsenton, Rogue, Primaluna, Nighthawk, Vincent hybrid, among others, are popular choices in that league these days.

 

kota1
2,706 posts
 

 

My advice is do NOT go down the traditional route of daisy chaining a system together. These days get a pair of active streaming speakers that you can hook your turntable to and you are done. You will have to spend MUCH more to get the equivalent SQ going piecemeal. For example:

 

sozocaps OP
5 posts
 

So for me wireless speakers are 100% not an option. I have a turntable which made me fall in love with listening to music again. I have a recording studio with top of the line digital and Focals. I did go tube on the pre, I just order a Modulus 3B so now looking for amp/amps, speakers, cables, modest DAC and maybe a phono cartridge upgrade for my lp7. 

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