2. amps-preamps
  3. 1143244103

Recommend relatively obscure high end tube preamps

Just wondering whether people can offer advice on high end preamps worth auditioning. I am looking for those who have experience with more esoteric and expensive equipment (MSRP >5000). I've owned Wavac (never should have sold it) and now own the Aesthetix Callisto Signature. I've owned BAT, CJ, ARC so I'm not looking for answers on things you can readily find.

One that comes to mind is the Brinkmann Marconi. Any opinions?

What else is out there?

~ William
classicjazz
flg2001's avatar
flg2001
543 posts
 
I sold my Gryphon Elektra some years back and still regreting it, it was one of those few components where one could easily forget about the "boxes" letting the music "wash you over".

Other that comes to my mind is the Metaxas Oppulence preamp, great musicality but un-even durability.

Fernando
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,212 posts
 
I had nice luck with the Joule Electra LA 150... I think retail is around $5250.
twilo
357 posts
 
Emotive Audio Sira-LE.
Here's a guy who owns it and a pic of it.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr_memb.pl?0&1&listsyst&zzLinkoping
soliver
67 posts
 
New Audio Frontiers Absolute is impressive.
thom_s
11 posts
 
Any of the progression of Emmanual Go's First Sound preamps, beginning with the Presence Deluxe Mk II, very impressive, simple dual-mono construction, massive power supply, all copper-plated steel chassis, one tube in the signal path, tube shunt regulated B+, point-to-point, dead quite. Finally found my pre-amp-for-life ... ahem, I think.
More to discover