Conrad johnson vs. Mccormack

I tend to prefer tubes to solid state as well, but I must note that solid state is superior in some ways. The bass response of a solid state amp is much better than a tube amp , even large ones. I too have a mccormack amp (DNA1RevA/partial Gold), and am looking for recommendations for a good tube preamp for it.

OT- John, I have a DNA-1 Deluxe RevA Gold. I am using it with an Audible Illusions Modulus 3A and Thiel CS3.6 speakers. I am extremely happy with the combination and can highly recommend the Mod3A. It also has a very good phono stage if you are into vinyl or planning it for the future.

I beleive that, as posted by a previous reviewer, a tube preamp with the McCormack is a fine system. I have a Sonic Frontiers preamp with the latest generation McCormack DNA-125 and it's a beautifull match. I had all kinds of very expensive mega-buck all-tube systems in the past 20 years. I dont agree that once you tried tubes you can never go back. Tubes have sweet sounds and have colorations, and if it sounds ok to you then it's a good buy. But tube power amps are a pain to own and use, and expensive when fitted with higher quality brands or NOS (new old stock) tubes.It made me sick to shell out $ 500.00 for a pair of tubes only to have it's internal coutdown start towards the day when I would have to replace them-again. Preamp tubes are virtually no-brainers for their sound and non-existent maintenance. They are truly worry free and inexpensive. And in my case, it's a fine sounding combination. They say once you own tubes you cannot go back? Hell, I went forward !!!! All of this is academic for me anyways as I will be selling my Sonic-McCormack combo soon to venture into home cinema. I will loose on the quality of audio reproduction, and I will miss the sweet audiophile sound, but what can I say...my upcoming 56" SONY screen will be begging for adequate sound, and I cannot afford two systems....Regards, hope this was of help to you.

Update: I tried out the AI Modulus 3A (a two month old one), and I found that I actually preferred my adcom 750 passive preamp. Part of this is due to the ergonomics. The 3A has very coarsly stepped non-remote attenuators. It added tiny bit of euphony, and removed a tiny bit of detail. The euphony was not worth the ergonomic difficulty.

Hi Korgwave; Good advice in above posts by G13, John_1, and Lags..... This subject has been discussed a lot here on Audiogon. I agree with (and use) a tube pre-amp (SF Line 2) and SS amp (McCormack DNA-2DX). It's a great combination-- I like the SS amp for its excellent bass control. As to your specific question, it seems to me that a CJ tube pre-amp and McCormack (or CJ) SS amp would certainly be a good place to start-- as G13 suggests. Cheers. Craig.