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Beautiful Colored Tube Preamp ($10k budget) to Pair w/ Very Accurate Monitors (PSI A25M)

I'm helping a friend set up a dream home setup based around (4) PSI A25M powered speakers w (2) PSI A225M subwoofers. Prism Lyra2 D/A converters. I know the PSI sound and it's very pleasing for home listening and of course super detailed  but I do want to provide some beautiful high end color /magic via a tube preamp which really adds a warmth to the sound. So curious what folks feel in the $10k range for a lot of that tube color and help warm up the very accurate PSI monitors some. Main source will be Tidal / streaming audio as well as a CDJ3000 DJ setup playing digital files. Having phono pre not essential - having a few inputs nice to easily switch between streaming and dj setup  =]  Maybe a manufacturer based in North America / US since based here and easier to deal w just in case any issues arise?  But also not essential

dejayos
jond's avatar
jond
5,706 posts
 

Shindo is a good call you can probably find a used one in the $10K range or close to it. Older c-j preamps the pv series are indeed warm and rich sounding though you do lose some resolution. Also Audio Note would be a brand to consider.

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,289 posts
 

Don’t forget Audio Research. They definitely have a warmth to them.

dejayos OP
6 posts
 

heyall awesome, helpful! yeah i think something current that has support might be ideal, but if this cj pv series is the ticket... losing a bit of resolution is fine sacrifice for more warmth and bit of that tube saturation since its digital source 

guessing there must be something around 10k which punches in quite a high weight class =] 

dejayos OP
6 posts
 

apparently EAR 912 is a good option 

came up in another thread 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,952 posts
 

Linear Tube Audio  they make a great preamp get it with the max Lundahl transformer ,order with the 6SN7 tubes , and it also has I believe 12at7 tubes or similar 9 pin tubes ,it was originally designed by tube guru David Burning 

then improved upon again ,it has several stages of regulation ,clarity best CMR capacitors you can dictate the sound with these tube types and at around $6k retail 

will compete with anything in the $10 k range check itout , Mike at Audio Archon 

will give you a fair price and check out all the excellent reviews ,use a good quality power cord and high quality tubes , vintage tube service, or Brent Jesse recording 

for true NOS  tested matched tubes.

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