2. amps-preamps
  3. 1213332941

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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,550 posts
 
Saxo,

Still out there?

If you like the sound of tubes, probably best to go with tubes. if that is the sound you like, then any thing else will be a compromise.

Shouldn't cost too much to build a nice sounding tube system around something like PrimaLuna, Rogue, etc.
asa
662 posts
 
Mapman, maybe you too, afer reading your comments on your system. I would seriously think about a Shindo Augieres pre with an Auditorium trannie into the Denon cartridge. Really, your Walsh's would love it.
f1a
198 posts
 
Thanks Asa:

The ESPs are definitely intriguing... but what 50wpc amp would you recommend for them?

Leaning towards the Audio Notes but don't these need to be corner loaded?? I'd prefer to keep the plasma in between without messing up the imaging...

Also, have you compared 300Bs lately? I recall you favor the new Western Electrics and I wonder how they might stack up to my TJs...
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,550 posts
 
Asa,

I would consider a tube pre-amp perhaps when the time comes to upgrade, but I am not even close to considering a tube power amp at this point.

IS the Shindo pre a tube unit?

Also I have no idea what an "Auditorium trannie" is?
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Mapman, check out Tone Audio. They import both Shindo and Auditorium. I had the transformer.
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