Best Balanced Tube Preamplifier

The Cary SLP 2002 is a very nice fully balanced tube preamp that isn't as warm as the SLP98 or as neutral as the 6H30 tube preamps such as the calypso, BAT, etc. It is a steal that the used market prices they seem to go for.

I found the SLP 2002 sound to be great. I'd call it slightly coloured. Being 6922 based, there is a lot of tube rolling that can be done to tweak the sound, and it can also take 6CG7's and 6H30's too. A very flexible unit.

Good luck.

FWIW we've built only balanced tube preamps. As far as we can tell, we are the first manufacturer to make fully differential and balanced all-tube preamps (1989). One of the founders of BAT bought one of the first production MP-1s before BAT was created.

I have decided to hold on to both amps I have now, are there balanced preamps that will work with various amps, ss and tube?

Pedrillo, I would expect that any balanced preamp, tube or solid state, should drive any balanced power amp made. I would not worry about that!

A week ago, Joule-Electra announced its new flagship, fully balanced line stage LA-450ME.

Its the balanced tween of LA-300ME which many (I, for example ;--) consider to be the best preamplifier in the world.

Next, "I need balanced inputs and outputs... " does not imply to me that you need to pay for fully balanced preamp or even for preamp with balanced inputs/outputs. With recently introduced spectacular CLEAR XLR/RCA adaptors from Cardas - you can use any single ended preamp you like. They are REALLY clear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All The Best
Rafael