Transistor Preamp that sounds like a Tube Preamp?


You probably think I'm crazy, but with all the improvements in solid state, are there any transistor preamps that have the following characteristics I hear in tubes?

1. Fully fleshed out instrumental timbre and overtones?

1. Full, alive midrange with bloom, body and dimension?

2. The airy space and separation between instruments?

3. That realness and aliveness of tubes?

4. At a retail of around $6,000 or less?

I'm sure I'll be getting some clashing opinions on this....
saxo
1&1: easy, just attenuate over 8kHz
2: easy with SS -- but difficult to achieve with above & below. You just need high frequency extension
3: Dunno probably 1&1 above.
4: A US made product. The Euro has reached $1,55.

Seriously, while you'll get all the usual "my pre is like that" type of response, no SS pre emulates tubes at that price level. One I know of that comes somewhat close is a Symphonic Line -- but it's more expensive. Another is the older big Rowland.

Really, why not just buy a tube: they're usually cheaper for what you get in terms of sound. Good SS pre's are miserably expensive.
you can go back in time all the way to a marantz 7t and find tubelike sound....there are hundreds of great neutral pre amps.
And to add to Gregm's post, with a tube preamp you can tailor the sound considerably by swapping tubes, so if you change speakers, amps, cables, etc. you can often adjust the tone back to where you like it by throwing in a different tube.
I know my Supratek sounds a LOT different with ElectroHarmonix tubes than with NOS RCA Grey Glass. You just don't have that flexibility with most SS preamps.
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Best buy is a PS Audio GCP 200/GCPS. It's differentially balanced, uses gain cells for volume control and has full function remote.

SS does require experimenting with iso devices, power cords, interconnects and speaker cables to get a tube-like warmth, but it's very doable. ANd once you are there