2. amps-preamps
  3. 1386585455

Hybrid Balanced Tube Preamp?

Hi Guys,
I am running a hybrid power amplifier which has two tube complement in the input section (rest is a solid state but class A) - i want to partner this amplifier a equally good "Hybrid Tube Preamp" which is Fully/Truly balanced, and would like "minimal" tubes..most shortlisted now seems unattainable because these units carry 4 or more tubes (Veloce,cary SLP) and the other brands have tubes in the output stage and mostly unbalanced (redwine audio,herron etc) - do you guys know of any other brands? does it make sense for me run a SS preamp like Hegel etc? i guess it defeats the purpose of then again having tubes in the power section!
thegoodarcher
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
I don't know your budget, but believe that you're trying to achieve maximum transparency with minimalistic preamps tube or SS and balanced. I think that you should try Wyred4Sound preamp with low gain. Tube fully balanced preamps will definitely have more than 4 tubes.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
You may want to look at BAT preamps.
Other fully SS preamps do not defeat the goal of good sound.To be honest and realistic, the place where tubes really make a big difference is in the output section. A signal from an SS a preamp is usually very clean and precise, the tube magic happens when the signal get amplified by the tubes in the output. Personally I would rather do that then flatten out the sound in an SS output but I am a converted tubophile.
Why are you avoiding more than 2 tubes in your preamp anyway?
zd542
5,339 posts
 
I would buy something based on sound quality, build quality and how well it matches to your current components. Get that right and you won't have to worry about all that other stuff.
4orreal
91 posts
 
I think the "Coincident Statement Linestage" is just what you need.
kurt_tank
1,189 posts
 
I recommend the VTL TL-6.5 signature line stage preamp. It is a hybrid preamp, with two 12AU7 tubes. It is very transparent and very flexible. I have this running my Lamm hybrid M2.1 monoblock amps.

(FYI: This replaced the Ayre K-1XE preamp that I had been using for nine years. The VTL is slightly better sonically and much better functionally than the Ayre, but the Ayre was a full function preamp, with a near reference phono stage.)

Note: Tube rolling is fairly easy and cheap due to the minimal number of tubes and the type. I went with the very neutral RFT 12AU7 tubes, which are fairly inexpensive.

Good luck in your search!
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