2. amps-preamps
  3. 1124759324

Help me deceide on pre-amp please

Guys
I'm looking for suggestions on my next upgrade. I'm leaning towards a new pre-amp. Perhaps a VTL 2.5 or maybe a Audio Research unit. I'd prefer to keep the price under $1500 USED.
A friend of mine was kind enough to let me try a Cal Aud Labs Sigma Dac on the O/P of my NAD and I did like the tube effect. It was not a huge improvement IMO but did add a certain bloom and impact on the upper bass and lower midrange. It was this audition that has convinced me to include tubes in my search but I am open to suggestions on both SS and Tubed units.
Ideally the preamp will have remote volume and HT pass as I plan to integrate this into a HT sys. I listen to mostly pop and rock music.

Here is my current 2CH sys.

NAD C542 CD Player
Aragon 8008ST Power Amplifier
Acurus RS-11 Pre-amplifier

Paradigm Reference Studio 100 V3 Loudspeakers
Paradigm Servo 15 V2 Subwoofer
energeezer
noble100's avatar
noble100
2,419 posts
 
I purchased a new VTL 2.5 a few months ago and am very pleased. It has HT bypass and a remote for volume and mute only. I got some NOS Mullards from Upscale Audio to replace the 2 12AU7 and 2 12AT7 standard tubes - will cost you about $150 for all 4 tubes and you could buy a used 2.5 for $1000-$1200. This combo will give you the midrange bloom as well as great detail and presence.
I'm using an Aragon amp(4004MKII), too, and it's a good match in impedance and performance. They also look good together - the VTL comes in either silver or black. I'm not selling anything, just a fan.
c123666
871 posts
 
I'd stretch a couple of hundred and find a VTL 5.5. This is a top tier preamp. Whatever preamp you buy it is always not a bad idea to run the serial number through the MFR to find out its history. VTL can give you this info on the phone for most of their products. Some of their early stuff was prePC and not in their database. Both the 2.5 and 5.5 will be.

I would suggest you avoid tubed preamps with a lot of tubes in them as they can get Very Expensive to upgrade/replace when required.
energeezer OP
26 posts
 
Thanks for the great suggestions?
Any more?
midirons
42 posts
 
dehavilland. Here is the link to a demo. (I still vote for the VTL 5.5. Of course only your vote counts!)

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ddpreatube&1126024726
mitch2
3,767 posts
 
C123666, I used to think the tube cost was bad, but after researching and playing with the SF preamps, I found only two of the tubes made most of the difference compared to stock tubes. For example, the SF Line 2 and Line 1 only take 6 tubes each, and could achieve excellent sound with 2 NOS 7308's or 6022's at $100/pair, and 4 low noise new tubes at $20-30/pair. The Line 2 was rated a Stereophile Class A preamp using the stock Sovtek 6922's at $12 each. Buyers should also check the product's reputation for how hard the equipment is on tubes, since they last longer in some of the preamp designs. Partsconnexion says Pearl Tube Coolers can increase tube life (we shall see). To me, adding a tubed pre was worth it for the improved body and dimensionality in the sound of my system.
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