2. amps-preamps
  3. 1312328157

Tube Pre to mate with Parasound JC-1s & Maggies?

I know variations of this question get asked here endlessly but this is a fairly specific variation & I have relatively limited experience with tubed gear so really do need advice (i.e. this isn't an idle "what's best" post)

I am looking for a quality Tube PreAmp (preferably w/- phonostage but that's not a must) that would match well with a pair of Parasound JC-1 Monoblocks feeding into a pair of modded Magnepan 3.6s. I would be comfortable paying around $2000 used.
salmonsc
peter_s
1,348 posts
 
I think you need a very lively preamp to go with the JC-1's. My experience is that the Audible Illusions isn't all that lively. Rogure might do. An older CAT. How about an EAR? Not quite as lively, but very musical and far above the AI, you might find a Hovland HP-100. Let us know what you end up with.
schubert
7,386 posts
 

EE minimax is quite lively.
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
The ARC's are always great, of course.

I have had a Cary SLP98p (mine and F1 version from Upscale Audio) that was sublime with the JC-1's and my 3.6R's.

Good luck.
salmonsc OP
66 posts
 
Many thanks for the great input so far - you've given me some good places to begin my research. As I wrote, I am relatively unexperienced with tube gear but was surprised to see no one has suggested a Shindo Aurieges ..?
truman
168 posts
 
Quicksilver Full Function Tube Preamp with plenty of gain. The new model rarely appears on Audiogon for around $2000 and it has a great tube phono section. Have patience.
More to discover