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Help - Need Preamp under 5K for Class D amps

I’ve been looking at preamps for some time now and now that I’ve finally taken delivery of some audiophile quality speakers it time to find this device.
My current setup is as follows:

Line Arrays in the form of AV123 LS-6’s driven by a pair of Nuforce 9 SEV2’s. No pre in the signal path. Source is a Slim devices Transporter. All files EAC ripped FLAC lossless compression.
AC services:
VH-Audio power cords service the Nuforce’s in Flavor 4 version as well as the Power conditioner. Dedicated circuit utilizing a Furutech outlet and Furutech silver IEC connectors, Furutech gold plugs on the opposite end on power cords except on the Transporter end where I use a Oyaide 079.

Adona Rack and a considerable amount of room treatments.

So what I hear while sitting on the couch is a pretty resolving system with pinpoint imaging, a decent amount of bloom, dynamics galore and a generally pleasing sound except… I’m not quite where I want to be in terms of just being able to relax into the music. I’d like a bit more air, or bloom or warmth? Sorry I don’t have the right description but perhaps the fact that I have NO pre is the problem in general. Overall sound seems to be a bit clinical. Maybe that’s the word.

This is why I ask the help of my audiophile brothers and sisters here. Running my MAC RCA Palladiums’ doesn’t improve this much over the balanced cables I own which are DH-Labs DIYers. Having a home theatre system in tow that utilizes the Nuforce’s as well I find myself constantly moving interconnect cables which is annoying at best.

I’ve been looking at Dan’s Modwright 36.5 and auditioned one from a fellow Audiogon seller. I couldn’t get a handle on it’s attributes from that audition – too different a system not to mention that I didn’t like what I was hearing from his setup. Others pre’s I’ve been interested in are as follows:

Parasound Halo JC-2 – No tubes but does that really matter?
Aesthetix Calypso
Audio Horizons 2.1
Modwright 36.5
Other?

Thanks for your advice.
128x128desalvo55
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,546 posts
 
The reason TRL's Dude is only $3500 is because they are a small company and they don't play games with the paid reviewers. They don't have a fancy wedsite and Paul is simply a great circuit designer.

There are other folks like me on this site and AA that can confirm how good his stuff is.

Sure, you can spend more money on a foreign piece that will be hard to service if needed and not sound as good.

The Dude is simply in a different league and will end one's desire to trade up or around. No, it is not eye candy nor a brand that you can boast on.

If remote and looks are needed, then the Dude is not your man. If you want beautiful music beyond what you thought was possible, then the Dude is the one for you.

Have fun. I am sure the other preamps mentioned will sound very good. I am sure you will enjoy one of them greatly. I have to. But the Dude and the 225 amp from TRL are really a breakthrough in home audio.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,546 posts
 
One other idea for you. I think another good choice, for the money and to accomplish what you want when mated with your Nuforce amps, is the Cary SL98 tubed preamp. Having owned this I know it will give you the meaty mid bloom you desire. Very nice preamp for the money.

The AH 2.1 is also a wonderful choice, but is more neutral sounding then the Cary. My long time favorite preamp.

The Conrad Johnson LS 16 is also so meaty and full through the mids and would also fit the bill nicely. I owned this one also.

The Dude has all of attributes mentioned above, but offers so much more in term of bringing live, bold and powerful sounding music home.

Bill
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
In the same price range as the Dude you can have the Jeff Rowland Design Group Capri, including a phono stage. This little is incredibly quiet, yet organic sounding at the same time. The billet aluminum chassis provides incredible RFI and EMI shielding and is designed with Class D in mind.

Dave
desalvo55's avatar
desalvo55 OP
257 posts
 
Audioforever – I’m feeling the Audio Eklipse as well. I have to factor in WAF and that unit is a beauty. Hell, I’m fortunate to have a converted audiophile wife. I think she’s crazier than I am. She wanted the LS9 line arrays which stand to the ceiling!

Not having any pics of the “Dude” and little information, I don’t know if I can go there. I like the Audio Horizon 2.1xx as well. Those can be optioned for the HT bypass and are well regarded on this forum.

I have little experience in tube gear. I owned and loved an AR LS15. I had borrowed back this unit and listened through my Nuforces some time ago and found it rolled off… the music. This was when I still used my Def Tech BP2000’s. I was surprised just how awful it sounded and it kind of worried me regarding choice of preamp’s. Now I have completely different speakers (line arrays) and many other upgrades and improvements. I know that I can tailor the sound through cables to a degree. I understand tubes will also affect the sonic quality of just about any pre to a point. So if we can find something reasonable and we’re willing to spend up to 5K (that’s a lot of cash in our world!) as I heard it often stated that the preamp is the heart of the system. I’m sure that can be argued about!

Many good points here. Now I need to check out that Jeff Roland designed Capri and the Cary.
Anybody with a pic of the Dude?
Thanks again for all the suggestions.
clio09
3,360 posts
 
I've owned the Cary SLP-98 and with the right tubes this is a very fine preamp. It is colored with the traditional Cary house sound focused on lush mids. The bass is not as tight as I would like, but its not bad either. I've heard that the Cary transformer coupled mod and F1 model of the SLP-98 presents a different sonic signature that is more neutral with better frequency extension and tighter bass.

I also own and am currently using the Rowland Capri. You can snag one here on Audiogon right now for $2100 including phono stage. An incredible deal IMO. Dcstep has accurately described the Rowland sound. It is a very quiet preamp with excellent frequency extension. Seems to transfer the signal accurately and effortlessly.

However, compared to my TRL preamp, which Brian Weitzel says is sonically comparable to the Dude (although totally different design), the Capri has a bit less kick and frequency extension. While the Capri claims to go from DC to 300k HZ, TRL claims that the top end of the Pre-1.5 is left wide open. Not that Paul Weitzel is a spec fanatic. Far from it in fact as what he is more interested in is the end result.

While Grannyring has mentioned that the Dude is not eye candy, you could talk to Paul and see about getting one built with a custom chassis that would be more appealing to you and your wife. Well worth the call to find out. More food for thought, I customized my D-225 amp with rosewood side panels made for me by another Audiogon member. Improved the looks dramatically.
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