Just testing the waters - Tube Preamp

Pycroft
Pycroft Posts: 1,960
edited June 2010 in Wanted (WTB) Classifieds
Hi all...

I've been keeping my eyes and ears open for a Carver C-19 tube preamp, but I may be waiting forever. I have a tube preamp that I can sell easily for 300 or more - but it's a starter preamp that is good for tube rolling. I am looking for something at least another step up. I would prefer newer - but will consider a vintage piece in good shape. I would also prefer a preamp with decent phono section in case I can actually make this small vinyl kick I'm in right now. It will be paired with my Sony SSM7a speakers, a Dynaco ST-70 with Welbourne modification (Thanks again Mike), my Sony SACD player, and a possible turntable (Borrowing a Technics TT from George right now). If you have something that you are looking to get rid of, please feel free to PM me or post something here. I'd love to hear about it, what you've had it paired with, why you are intersted in getting rid of it, and what you'd consider a fair price for it. I'd like to keep it under 1,000 (I am funding it through selling lots of other gear - see my for sale thread :)). Thanks in advance!

James
2 Channel/HT:
Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
Harman Kardon HK354
Sony SACD Player
Post edited by Pycroft on
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Comments

  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited June 2010
    I do not have the SE version but this might interest you. I like mine, HT bypass and remote are nice options. Never mind, I forgot it does not have a phono stage.

    I bet he will take less since it has been up for 23 days.

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1280423801&/Anthem-Pre-2-L--SE-special-edi
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited June 2010
    Hi all,

    I'm in up to my ears. Help me.
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  • Pycroft
    Pycroft Posts: 1,960
    edited June 2010
    ThSmith -

    Thanks I'll do some research on that.

    George - Not sure what you mean :) I'll help if I can though, you know it :)

    James
    2 Channel/HT:
    Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
    Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
    Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
    Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
    TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
    Harman Kardon HK354
    Sony SACD Player
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited June 2010
    Pycroft wrote: »
    T

    George - Not sure what you mean :) I'll help if I can though, you know it :)
    George is so often inscrutable...
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2010
    Check out the Line 2A: http://hollowstate.netfirms.com/

    I use a heavy modified one in my 2 channel rig, but out of the box they still sound pretty good. If you look around, the 2A and 4A(pre+phono) both have excellent reviews.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Pycroft
    Pycroft Posts: 1,960
    edited June 2010
    Mike -

    Do these sell preassembled or do I have to put somethign together. Putting things together and I don't mix :)

    I'll do some reading up, thanks for the info!

    James
    2 Channel/HT:
    Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
    Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
    Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
    Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
    TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
    Harman Kardon HK354
    Sony SACD Player
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2010
    I don't believe that model is available in kit form anymore.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited June 2010
    Hi,
    I am selling my Tube Audio Design 150 Sig preamp for $700, less for a polkie. It sounds very good. It has remote, 4 inputs including phono. The phono has mm and mc capabilities. It uses 2 12au7 or 12at7, or 12ax7 tubes. If you are interested pm me. Thanks.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited June 2010
    George Grand wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I'm in up to my ears. Help me.

    George call me, if you need me to come up, I'm availible Friday, Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited June 2010
    James, I highly recommend the VTL 2.5 preamp. It is an awesome sounding pre and synergizes well with other components. Wide, detailed sounds stage and the bass oh the bass this baby puts out will drop your jaw.

    Tube rolling will get you the sound you like too.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited June 2010
    I'd keep my eyes out for a Melos SHA-1. Pretty much the high water mark, IMO, if you only need three inputs and have an outboard phono stage.

    It has been my reference preamp for a few years now.....

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited June 2010
    All I did was loosely translate your first paragraph for some of the lesser astute among us James.

    I KNOW what that first paragraph means.
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  • Pycroft
    Pycroft Posts: 1,960
    edited June 2010
    George -

    Turns out that I AM one of the lesser astute :)

    To all - Thanks for the options, I will look into all of them. Quick question - an 'outboard phono stage' means that it does NOT have a phono itself, but I'd have to buy another piece to add on to the amp to make it turntable ready, right?

    James
    2 Channel/HT:
    Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
    Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
    Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
    Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
    TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
    Harman Kardon HK354
    Sony SACD Player
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    edited June 2010
    Can't go wrong with a Dodd either James.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited June 2010
    Pycroft wrote: »
    George -

    Turns out that I AM one of the lesser astute :)

    To all - Thanks for the options, I will look into all of them. Quick question - an 'outboard phono stage' means that it does NOT have a phono itself, but I'd have to buy another piece to add on to the amp to make it turntable ready, right?

    James

    That sounds like what it means, James. That's actually not a bad thing; lots of "outboard" options at all price points (tens to thousands of dollars).
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  • Pycroft
    Pycroft Posts: 1,960
    edited June 2010
    Wouldn't having the phono built in be easier and have benefits as well? Isn't it just another cost that I don't have to have if I can find a similar priced preamp with the phono built in?
    2 Channel/HT:
    Sony SS-M9 P's (ES version)
    Sony SS-M1CN Center Channel
    Polk RT800 Surround Speakers
    Odyssey Stratos Dual Mono Amplifiers
    TAD 150 Signature Tube Preamp
    Harman Kardon HK354
    Sony SACD Player
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited June 2010
    Well, yes in terms of convenience... but like anything else, if you're patient you can find something add-on that's likely better than what's built in (typically there's a compromise in bundling stuff together vs. keeping it separate - even if it's "only" that they share a power supply). Nothing wrong with a built-in, though.

    For the $, the best outboard phono preamp value has gotta be Jim Hagerman's "Bugle" kit. www.hagtech.com

    If you want to go that route and don't feel like slinging solder... I'd be happy to build it for you! :-)

    EDIT: PS, nice of George to supply a translation of his earlier post!
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited June 2010
    Pycroft wrote: »
    Wouldn't having the phono built in be easier and have benefits as well? Isn't it just another cost that I don't have to have if I can find a similar priced preamp with the phono built in?

    James, my experience which is limited with line stage preamps is that the phono stage installed in the unit are usually put in for convenience and not a lot thought or quality are put into it by the manufacturer. For example; I've heard the VTL 2.5 and VTL 5.5 both are great performing tubed preamps but when the phono stage was added or already installed it sounded terrible with only a few options plus they are usually geared towards MM cartridges as that is the cheapest way to go with these inboard phono stages. My beloved Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista 300 hybrid integrated has a phono stage as "a convenience to our customers" that's a quote from MFs user manual. The inboard phono stage sounds awful is only gear towards MM cartridges and has very little if any option to choose from.

    You are IMHO always better off getting an outboard phono stage in that you get more option for various cartridges i.e., loading resistive and capactive depending on the cartridge, much better and versitle gain adjustement plus when you think about it all the R&D, parts selections, design etc all have the emphasis on phono needs such as excellent RIAA sections. They are typically very quiet and present a nice presentation. Of course this depends on the phono stage you would decide to purchase.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited June 2010
    Pycroft wrote: »
    George -

    Turns out that I AM one of the lesser astute :)
    James

    Hahaha, I'm a member of the same obtuse club! I didn't get it either.:eek::o
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited June 2010
    youse guys aint obtuse; it's just that this topic is abstruse.
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