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
georgeab
95 posts
 

I too, got tired of the hassle of tubes. I went with a SimAudio Moon P7. For me, it was a great choice as it checks the boxes of what I like.     

audio-b-dog's avatar
audio-b-dog
8 posts
 

I owned tube preamps for many years. CJ Premier 14, then I moved to Audio Research. My last ARC preamp was the Reference 3 and I loved it, but did not love having to pull it out of my system to change the tubes. 

I found a Pass Labs XP-30 (MSRP $16K) used for about $6K, so I jumped on it. The sound out of this preamp is every bit as clear and musical as the tube preamps. But it is pricey. However, Most people seem to be purchasing the two-piece (mine is a three-piece) Pass preamp for about $10K. Still expensive, but I wouldn't have any concern about buying one used. Pass makes very solid products. 

And I actually must admit that I like the Pass preamp more than the tube preamps I'd fallen in love with. I called my neighbor over to hear it and immediately he commented on the clarity of the new preamp and my system. It's an improvement.

harrylavo's avatar
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harrylavo
345 posts
 

Actually, the early solid-state CJ preamps had mucu of the 3-D quality that CJ is famous for.  In addition, from the old days, the Audionics BT-2 pramplifiers sound was modeled on the tube Audio Research SP-6 line of tube preamps and carries it off very well.  I don't know much about modern SS Preamps, but the Adcom 565II received a very fine recomendation from Anthony Cordesman, one of The Absolute Sound's original (and in my opinion, best) reviewers.

niodari's avatar
niodari
300 posts
 

To my taste, it would be hard to find a solid state amplifier that fully substitutes  a tube amp features. McIntosh solid state amplifiers tend to sound quite warm. Just for fun, you can also try a class D amplifier, you may like the result. 

I'm using the same tubes for years, and it is strange to me that you need to change them each 3 months. Perhaps you set very high bias or there is something wrong with your (pre)amplifier (preamplifier tubes normally last too long). 

coppy777
139 posts
 

Sorry if I missed it but what does Jeff Fischel at C-J have to say about your noisy tube issues and does he have a recommended tube for you?

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