tube preamps

May I suggest trying a eastern electric "MINI MAX" preamp. They are cheap and excellent sounding. You dont need matched pairs of tube either, big plus. Over here the mini max has compared diretly to some units at 2-3 times its list price. Ads
adds a bit of tube warmness, with realworld recordings its a plus.

Is the eastern electric "mini max" still in production? I went to the website and it looked like it hasn't been updated since 2003.

Csmithbarc,

You didn't mention the SS amp you will be matching it with. I have found some interesting matches tube/ss over the years.

Clio09,

The tube/ss will be a bit faster. When you first go to the tube/tube you might be disappointed. But I bet if you keep listening you will fall in love with the tube/tube matchup. You might sacrifice some bass. But the rest of the of the music will come alive!

You will sacrifice punch, drive and dynamics, not to mention bass with most tube amps. If you don't listen to 70s rock and old jazz that may not matter to you, but I do. IMHO a good tube pre gives your air around instruments, widens and deepens the soundtage. I am definitely in the tube pre SS amp camp. For me the TAD-150 is doing the trick paired with a McCormack DNA-125 amp.

I just purchased my Minimax brand new from Morningstar Audio about 2 months ago.So yes they are still in production.I really like it by the way.Was going passive prior but i like what this little fella has added to my systems character.Nice preamp