Tube preamp suggestions.


I enjoy a lush sound with extended decays, bass with weight, and holographic mids. PRAT, speed, and resolution are not my top prioroties. Looking for a preamp that will compliment my vintage Mcintosh MC275 ( decked out to my tastes with gold lions and telefunkens ) amp and bring digital closer to analogue. Not interested in 6h30 tubes, tried cary slp98, bat and AR ls25 mk2...I seem to prefer the 6922 based versions. Associated gear is Focus Audio FS-88 speakers, using Harmonix interconnects & powercords and nordost SPM cables. I already have dedicated lines and using wattgate outlets with no power conditioners. I really enjoyed the Supratek Shyrah but found it very microphonic, couldnt get within 15 feet of it with a cell phone. Im interested in Emotive preamps and Blue circle but no dealers remotly close to my area. Any opinions on these 2 or or suggestions would be appreciated.
velo62
I would second the recommendation for the Joule Electra LA-150 MkII. I previously owned the Blue Circle BC 3000 MkII, and the Joule provided a dramatic increase in bass impact and harmonic fullness. Here's HP's description in awarding it a 2007 Golden Ear:

"With the LA-150 [MkII], your'e going to think your speakers have bottom-end response like they never did before. And it won't sound 'wrong' either. That's because Barber has elicited from the electronics a correspondingly alive and dynamic upper midrange, though not enough of one to make you think it is a euphonic coloration, so skillful is the design. All all this is bathed in glorius 'tube' sound, like a darker version of the classic gear when Audio Research ruled the waves, and with even less distortion."

I don't listen much to reviewers, but everything he said is true in my system (solid state amps driving monitor speakers). But you must get the MkII version -- the original used the 6h30 and reportedely sounds very different.

I haven't heard and didn't consider the Lamm after living with no remote during my (otherwise favorable) Blue Circle experience. My only hesitation would be if your speakers are already bass-heavy, in which case the Joule could be too much of a good thing.
i would suggest a vintage preamp to match your vintage mac amp. perhaps a mac c22 or a conrad johnson premier 3.

don't consider any preamps past the 80's. there are a number of older preamps which will suffice.
Heard that the Promitheus TVC needs a long patiently breaking in period of at least 400 hours to perform its best.