2. amps-preamps
  3. 191802-4635

Solid State Preamp to replace tube unit

I currently own a CJ tube preamp. Ive always owned tube preamps and I would like to get my first solid state preamp.I am fed up with buying expensive hard to find tubes that last 3 months or new production tubes with that not so great sound. I pine for consistency. I probably wont sell my CJ I'll just keep it. My power amps are NAD M23 for the summer and CJ Premiere 12's for the winter.

Since I dont dabble in the solid state world I am not sure what to get. I figure since this is my first SS unit 4-5k preowned??. Some brands I have considered CODA< Pass, AYRE, Classe, Bel Canto, Krell etc. Note: I have tried the Parasound and Benchmark but they didnt do it for me. I dont like anayltical sterile sound. If it is a touch warm/colored that is probably good as I am coming from a very warm CJ tube unit.

Must haves are a remote with balance control. Multiple outputs (XLR and RCA). I have an outboard phono pre. Thank you for reading and for your suggestions.

jimbones
yyzsantabarbara
4,829 posts
 

If you use ROON try the digital balance control of ROON vs the analog of your next preamp. My Benchmark LA4 has a great Balance but not as good as the ROON setup. Though ROON only works for digital streaming.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,152 posts
 

Very easy - Coda Fet preamp , retail around $7500it is a solid state preamp I would buy it is almost tube like but with exceptional detail and realism.

great reviews, Call Mike at Audio Archon tell him Paul L sent you 

you can discuss in detail ,fair pricing Excellent service a true Great preamplifier by Any standard my brother owns that and about 5 others even more $$ preamps.

Audio is his $$$ playground 

lordrootman's avatar
lordrootman
377 posts
 

I have Simaudio Moon P8 Preamp and W8 Amplifier for sale which sounds amazing but I’m selling pair together contact me if you are interested 

vthokie83
864 posts
 

Jimbones,

Best of luck on the SS preamp search, but I can't offer any suggestions. I thought I liked them when I owned them, but then swapped in an Aric Audio Motherlode XL 6SN7 preamp.....I can't ever go back now.

Bigger question to me, is why are you blowing preamp tubes in an amazing preamp? I have never blown a preamp tube in any amp or preamp, in a dozen years over 5 devices.

Keep us up to date, I'm interested in what you find to your liking

joshua43214
49 posts
 

I struggled with this for about 3 years.

I needed a preamp with balanced out to go between my Manley Snapper monoblocks and my Holo May KTE DAC.

Tried quite a few.

 

In the end I wound up with a Levinson 523.
Probably outside your budget even used, but it was also outside my budget when I started looking.

It meets your criteria including balance control on the remote, and it is a seriously fantastic piece of gear (better be for the price).

I got mine used at about 1/2 retail.

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