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Tube preamp question

Hello all,
I've recently been looking to possibly add a nice tube preamp to use with my spectron musician ii (hybrid upgrade/no V cap upgrade) monos and Anthony Gallo ref 3.1 speakers. I am currently using a Lexicon MC-12B preamp, bybee power filters with wireworld power cables, cardas balanced xlr and spectron remote sense cables. (I am also using lexicon rt-10 universal player and Oppo bdp 103). I love the Lexicon preamp and mostly watch movies but have been more and more appreciating music on my system. I'd love to add the warmth of a tube preamp but is there anyway to use both or would a tube buffer between the universal player and preamp be the way to go (a happy medium). Basically I want to use the Lexicon for movies and a tube preamp for mostly 2ch music. Is there any way to "pass through" the lexicon and use a tube preamp when I want to listed to the tubes?
I would also need a balanced tube preamp due to the fact the spectrons must be changed internally from balanced/unbalanced.
Any help/input/ideas would be very greatly appreciated as always
duckdownman
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Duckman- Not to complicate matters but according to this poston AVS Forum, the MC-12B is not "a 'truely' balanced circuit as Lexicon feels that is the wrong way to build a product. The DACs (on both the MC-12 and MC-12B) are run in dual differential mode, then their outputs are summed right at the output of the DACs. This gives you the maximum S/N increase from running dual differntial DACs. From there the signal is sent out the single ended outputs and to the balanced line drivers." so you may be making an issue out of something that is not really there. There are lots of products w XLR connectors that do not have dual differential circuitry, so you would not need to change all of your ICs but you could widen the field of possibilities.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
12-02-13: Duckdownman
Thanks for the input Jmcgrogan2 , I appreciate it.
If I were to add a tube pre with a ht bypass that was non balanced would this now make my system unbalanced since it's connected in line?

Yes, a break in the chain in any spot is still a break in the chain. To run a fully differential system the signal must remain fully differential throughout, from beginning to end (source, preamp, amp). Some feel that this is a big deal, but not me. Some of the best systems I've ever heard are single-ended. Whatever floats your boat though.
pdspecl
254 posts
 
The Doge 8 (1st version) had noise issues with the phono section. The more current 'Clarity' version is absolutely dead quite - line stage and phono section (even when using Moving Coil carts). My friend has the preamp running a Bel Canto amp and Maggies. I've heard the preamp many times through different amps. No noise issues assuming you have decent tubes.
duckdownman OP
17 posts
 
Demo'd a whole assortment of preamps the past two weeks. i must say most (not all) were very nice, each having their own set of characteristics. i have heard, prima luna , rogue, audio research, cary, aesthetix, ayre and a few others. Of those mentioned i liked the aesthetix calypso and ayre (kx5 i believe) to be the best. i still have not been able to demo any BAT products which i really wanted to. i haven't heard that perfect symmetry with my clad D spectrons but I'm on my way *im trying thats for sure)
fripp1
54 posts
 
Do you have access to a McIntosh dealer? Like you I am considering a tube preamp upgrade (from my Mac C220) and intend to demo the C2500 at some point. That's their top-of-the-line pre insofar as single box units go.

The inclusion of a killer DAC in that preamp may not be something you would use (hence needlessly driving the price up) but it is a large part of the appeal for me as my digital front end (Marantz SA7S1) is 2007 technology.
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