2. amps-preamps
  3. 1414950877

Looking for Tube Pre-Amp Recommendations

Just got a pair of Avalon Ascendants and have them mated with Sonic Frontiers Power 3 monoblocks and an old Conrad Johnson PV 12 pre-amp (will be upgrading my old Meridian 508 cd player too but want to settle on the pre-amp first).

Looking to upgrade the pre-amp as the Avalon's are either showing up the pre-amp and or it's just not a good fit (it worked well with my Thiel 6's). So, looking for a recommendation for a replacement tube pre-amp. I'm fine buying used. Don't want to spend more than $5,000.

Curious if anyone knows the newer CJ stuff? I liked their sound years ago and it worked with the Thiels but now curious if a better more recent CJ pre-amp (like the CT5) would mate well with the Avalon's? One person told me he didn't think it was a good fit (he thought the new CJ's were "pudgy" sounding and not quick and airy enough for the Avalon's).

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
dkonstruction
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Atmasphere,

If the OP gets the Audiokinesis you recommend at 95db, it opens up the door for some gain related hiss/noise due to the speakers being so efficient. Do you think it might be an issue in this case, with the OP's current gear? I have a pair of Wilsons rated at 94db, and had that problem until I found components that were a better match for the speakers.
darkmoebius
900 posts
 
It might be worth trying some Paul Speltz Zeros impedance matching autoformers before changing preamp, amp, or speakers. Naked versions are $550 and boxed are $1,200. You can find them used here occasionally

Here's some reviews:
6 moons.com / by Srajan Ebaen
Enjoy the Music.com / by Wayne Donnely
[url=http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/zero_autoformer_e.html]TNT-AUDIO / by Richard George[ /url]
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,793 posts
 
Zd542, We've had that model of CJ preamp come through here for repair in the past. It was pretty quiet- I don't see noise as being an issue with Duke's speakers.
thekong
203 posts
 
Just to share my experience, I also have a pair of Sonic Frontiers Power 3, and I believe it performs much better matching with a balanced preamp with balanced connection. I am getting good result using the Aesthetix Callisto, which you may find at the $5K range (the older MKII and Signature versions) 2nd hand.
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