Need your assiatnce - tube preamp recommendations

Thanks very much for your thoughts Mariusz. I would be very interested in your experience, as the Dodd is high on my list. I live in Atlanta and think very highly of Walter (the dealer you mentioned - I bought the Marantz from him) and would like to deal with him again.

I am looking for a bit smoother, more lush sound, as the current set up is quite detailed and not tubey at all. Guess I am more of an EL34 guy, but I love the Mac anyway.

Yes, Walter is very profecional and I hope my relationship with him will only get better. I don't like to mention dealers by name so I won't be accused of promoting their bussiness. But good people deserve to be mention. Walter is probably one of those guys that represent good bussiness ethics and pleasure
to deal with.

Back on the subject .

Your system is very, very nice and I imagine that it is quaite musical .
Marantz and Mac match very well and should complement each other nicely.

I am not familiar with your room acoustics.
I would also experiment with some room treatments if you haven't addressed this issue already. Since some brightness and sibilance may have their roots there.
It might be worthy investment on top of what new preamp can bring to the table.

You have mentioned el34 as the tube of choice and it also happens that it is mine favorite of the family .
I have replaced a lot of equipment over the last few years but my el34 amp survived it all and I don't think that it is going anywhere anytime soon.

From the preamps that I have include in my first post, Jas was the sweeter and very lush with very nice body. I loved it but it was kind of locking in the last word of detail and transparency. Not a lot .....just a bit. It had endless options for tube rolling which I have not explored but I can only imagine the possibilities to fine tune the sound to your ear. However this preamp is very underestimated and overlooked as just another pre from China.
Supratek will also give you just a bit of " tubey" sound ....and it is very transparent as well.

Hope it helps (somewhat)

Cheers
Mariusz

You need that good old Conrad-Johnson sound. Save yourself some cash and try the PV-11L now for sale on Audiogon. I don't know the seller; I have owned a PV-11 and PV-12, and they offer sweetness and warmth without too much bloat or high end rolloff. Maybe not clinically accurate but that doesn't seem to be what you're looking for. With only two tubes, you can try tube rolling till you find a sound you like.

You might want to look at the deHavilland Ultraverve or the Mercury. I have the Ultraverve and it is excellent (a 6sn7 based preamp).

I couldn't agree more with Jhold. In fact..I DARE ;-) you to pick up a CJ from the PV-5,8,10 or 11 and 12A, and see if you dont think it beats a host of these newer hi-dollar clinical sounding pre amps out today..