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What preamp should i buy

I have had my heart set on the Sunfire tube control preamp for a long time now,But it seems impossible to find and consumers have driven the price up to the point that it is beyond what it cost new over twenty years ago. The stories of the warmth and sound stage really impress me. Now i am considering the McIntosh tube preamp C2300 which is about $5000.I do not want to spend that kind of money and be stuck with a preamp that does not sound as good as the Sunfire. Help!!!!
I have not read many articles that compare the sound of the Sunfire tube control preamp that says there is a tube preamp in that price range that sounds just as nice. When i do the independent research on a preamp that is supposed to be just as good there are always a ton of negatives....Please help, i have presently saved up $4000 dollars and want to get something with a warm sound and big sound stage. I currently have a refurbished Sunfire 300x2, benchmark usb1, Klipsh Cornwall 3's. Using a $500 dollar Chinese tube preamp which sounds nice but i would like to upgrade.
128x128mrjazz1959
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,992 posts
 
An Audio Research LS26 would be in your price range. For a
little more money you could get a Audio Research Ref3.
Either of these are excellent preamps.

There are a lot of options in your price range, so I'm sure
others will chime in.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
You could try placing a "Wanted" ad in the Audiogon classifieds. There's a lot of traffic on the website every day. Somebody might have upgraded by now and has one collecting dust.
pops
2,275 posts
 
Mr. Jazz I am using what i consider to be a great deal in the under 5 to 6K range, the Dehavilland Ultra Verve III. I have used it for around 3 years now, no itch to upgrade or feelings that I am missing something.

It fits 2 out of 3 of your criteria, under 5K, big soundstage, but it is not necessarily warm sounding. It uses a single 6SN7 tube and 2 cathode followers with a minimalist signal path. Lots of NOS tube options to tune, I am using a sylvania and love it!

Just my 2 cents, don't want to be a guy just recommending my stuff, I have owned and listened to lots of tube preamps, so it is merely my experience I am sharing...Will I upgrade - yes eventually but it will be way more expensive...
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