Warm Preamp

I've been on the same search myself for a couple of years...but I want warmth AND detail, and finding the right mix hasn't been all that easy. I would say ARC's are generally out, except for older ones, like the SP8. Years ago I had CJ gear, and I recently bought an old PV5, which is having some work done on it, but the buzz on it is that it's about as warm as you get...maybe too warm. I tried Cary gear, and would not recommend the SLP98--the one I had was wired with silver wire and was not warm. (I hate the sound of silver wire, but I guarantee that some people will say I'm crazy if I didn't think the SLP98 wasn't the warmest thing imaginable.) The SLP2002 was not bad, but in the end, didn't really quite get where I wanted. Same with a couple of Joule preamps (in fact, the LAP 150 is in many respects wonderful, but just a bit too much fizz at the top.) I kept hearing that BAT gear was "dark" so I thought that might work, and now use a BAT VK31, NOT the SE version. (The SE versions have the Russian "super tubes" in them, and seem a bit cold to me.) I put Amperex Bugle Boy tubes in it, and it's pretty darn nice.

Good luck, and tell us what you end up with.

I've been on the same search myself for a couple of
years...but I want warmth AND detail

Try a Shindo preamp like the Aurieges! It will be exactly what you are looking
for. A word of caution though: Shindo preamps do require careful matching with
amps due to the fairly high output impedance.

As for warm without detail: Rogue would fit that...

I like my tubed Anthem Pre 1L from Sonic Frontiers. Has a matched quad of Bugle Boys in it.

I have owned preamps costing 10x the cost of my Cary SLP98P and will never part with it. I you do not have or care for a turntable, get an SLP98L line stage. Call Larry Diaz @ Highend Palace, and he can most likely get you a very fair price on one. Good luck

I like my tubed Anthem Pre 1L from Sonic Frontiers.

I wouldn't call the Anthem Pre-2L warm or tubey. It was almost solid state in its presentation. For what it's worth.