Class D amp with Tube Preamp Combo?

Since this topic is being discussed any thoughts on THE tube preamp to go with the new Spectron Musician III Signature Edition MKII. Budget in the $7-8K range or less, of course. HT bypass would be nice but seems like most companies are adding that option now. thanks

The Red Wine Audio Isabella (with built-in dac) battery powered tube preamp + Red Wine Audio battery powered Signature 30.2 amp - as long as you do not need a ton of power and it is in your budget, you will be seduced by the sound! I own this pairing and cannot recomend it highly enough!

http://www.redwineaudio.com/Isabella.html

http://www.redwineaudio.com/Signature_30.2.html

-Jeff

Hi Bostonbean, with an input impedance of 50K Ohms on both RCA and XLR connectors, the Spectron Mus 3 Sig II should be quite easy to interface with almost any tube pre. My current favorite tubed line stages are the ARC Ref 3 and the VTL 6.5, but I have not tried them with the Spectron.

What, no class D bashing? Have we finally arrived?

IMO Jwarmbrand's suggestion is more to the point. With class D the question isn't so much tube or solid state it's getting as much off the grid as possible. My Nuforce SE's took on a much fuller and more quiet presentation when I replaced an upgraded A I 3A with my current battery powered pre.

Unfortunately the resolution and transparency offered by many class D designs is often misdiagnosed as sterile or forward. My system benefited greatly from a new metal clad conduit, dedicated AC line, and from mass loading the SE's casework with some DIY sandbags. Addressing the vibration and the AC should be seriously considered before applying the tube preamp band aid.

All my vacuum tubes have now migrated from the back end to the front. The output section of my ModWright/Denon player is tube driven as is my FM tuner. There is no substitution for the effect tubes can have on an audio system and I haven't heard any solid state or class D product that sounds like tubes. Likewise, I haven't heard a tube system that sounds like a well executed class D system.

I have heard noise at low listening levels from the four tube preamps I auditioned in my system. Not that big of a deal and the noise wasn't an issue at louder levels. I think there is a battery powered tube preamp, Dodd?

"What, no class D bashing? Have we finally arrived?"

Vicdamone, I've been there for a spell. . . as far as I am concerned class D is one more perfectly legitimate amplification technology, like everything else replete with the bad, the good. . . and the ugly. G.