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Need Help Choosing a Tube Preamp for a Classe Amp

I have Thiel CS3.7 speakers and a Delta 2200 Classe amp. I'd like some suggestions for what tube preamps to audition to match with this amp/speaker combo. The Thiels are wonderful but unforgiving of things like tube rush and I have little interest in tube rolling or high maintenance. The Classe Delta is a fairly neutral SS amp. I'd rather not spend more than $3000 used...or is that unreasonably low? I've listened to the VTL 5.5 and was impressed.
vhiner
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Atmasphere or Sonic Frontiers?
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,209 posts
 
Ditto the comments from Samhar & Sarcher30 on the Aesthetix Calypso. Needs the right NOS tubes to sound it's best. I use Mullard CV 4004's & white label Amperex 6922's. Brent Jesse Recording & Brendan @ Tubeworld are good trustworthy sources for buying NOS tubes.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 
If you can go with balanced, it will reduce the sonic artifact of the interconnect cables. If done right, balanced line will allow you to go with very inexpensive cables with no sonic artifact at all. I've seen $85.00 cables (25 feet long) replace $25,000 worth of cables (24 feet long) with no audible difference at all...
analog_soul
44 posts
 
Try to audition an all ECC83/12ax7 linestage.
vhiner OP
544 posts
 
Any brand suggestions on the ECC83/12ax7? I'm new to all of this.
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