Tube Preamplifier Time

Chris,
I used to own a VTL 5.5. I don't think there is a need to bias the unit. Certainly, impedance matching with the amplifier is an important consideration. I replaced my VTL 5.5 with an Audio Horizons TP 2.0nB because, apparently like you, I wanted the sound of tubes but also a sound that is well articulated and detailed.
At this time, I think there are better preamplifier choices for low wattage SET amps. That said, my TP preamp matches beautifully with my VTL MB 185s. Other users have reported similar results with other amplifiers (both tube and solid state). You may want to experiment by using the Audio Horizons free trial period. The Audio Horizons preamp can be purchased new for under $3K.

Velocityofhue,
If I read your post correctly it sounds like you auditioned a VTL 5.5 at a dealer and then bought one on Audiogon. That's a pretty big no-no ethically speaking. If a dealer is spending the time and effort to set up demos for you he should be rewarded for his services. Otherwise you're just wasting his valuable time. If I somehow mis-understood you and this isn't what happened please accept my apologies. And whatever the case may be I still hope that you enjoy your new preamp.

If, as it appears to be the case, the original poster auditioned in a brick and mortar store then bought on-line, I have quite a different hope than expressed by Jond above. I hope the thing craps out and he as no recourse --that would be both justice served and a good lesson as to why one should purchase from dealers. The dealers I've dealt with have also serviced their products and I've never had to do any heavy lifting or pay anything for a repair.

Thanks for the replies guys!
Cedar,
I appreciate your words in relation to striving for what sounds like similar characteristics and am glad to know I'm understood and making some kind of sense when describing my systems sound and what I no longer hear without the solid state pre.
Jond,
When I listened to the pre originally when auditioning the spks. that I purchased from the dealer brand new I kinda had a hunch that the combination would satisfy me. On a later visit and broke as a joke I still had dreams of getting the dreadfull marantz thingy out and a tube pre in which my dealer recommended for real Hi-Fi when I took the plunge for the Thiels. Major finacial recovery time it took me after dropping 4400 on them and a more than a year wait I decided to buy used and also a model lower TL2.5 which I have never heard or demoed. Come to think of it I think that I was originally sold on the spks while listening through a Burmester pre. Now, I totally can understand listening spent with the dealer is precious time and dont believe I could have had a better experience than that with which the gentleman over a Sound by Singer offered. With the courtesy that has always been given to me upon visiting this store you can bet it will be my new equipment purchasing stop and I by no means want to use him. Perhaps I should find other audiophiles locally to hear different equipment?

Chris

The VTL preamp I purchased used fried the power transformer within playing music for 25hrs. This is very heart breaking to me and will make me much more cautious in purchasing used equipment in the future. Bea over at VTL says to me that it's in great looking shape at which point I agree and also comment that it's surprising this happened. Should I look into cleaner power such as using a conditioner before connecting to the apartment wall?

Very sad times I tell ya not to have tunes at the moment very sad. In the mean time I have chucked out a bunch of bills to get a mapleshade samson v.1 equipment rack after realizing the terrible crap that is the Lovan hollow metal tubed MDF 3/4in fiberboard I once started out with upon getting my first system.