Tube preamp questions

naturallight
naturallight Posts: 689
edited July 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
I'm looking for a tube preamp for around $500. I found a Vincent Audio SA-31 hybrid tube pre for $600, New. I'm looking for something that will go well with my RTi12's, Onkyo M-504 power amp and Jolida 100a. I have an old Adcom gtp-400 pre. It's fairly neutral, but it is not the best pre and pretty sterile. I'm hoping a good tube pre along with the Jolida will help take some of the "digital" out of the cd's.

Most of what i can find used at a decent price is old Dynaco PAS stuff. That is kind of getting too old, for the most part they pretty much have to be rebuilt. I'm looking for one that has a bass, treble control on it. X amount of my cd collection...just not eq'd very well, so it dose need some tweaks on the treble, bass, to make them use full.

Dose anybody know about the Vincent equipment? Do you have any recommendations for something that may be in that price range? This is 2 channel stereo only. Thanks.
Post edited by naturallight on
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Comments

  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited July 2011
    I have these and liked them.

    Anthem Pre 2L
    Wright WLA12
    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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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,279
    edited July 2011
    Psssst....Don't tell anybody but you can save some dough and get one heck of a nice tubed pre here...

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121299

    He's a solid seller and I have personally heard this unit. You will not be disappointed. It does not have the "knobs of sin" on them but once you hear it, you'll discover that they are not needed and that the music sounds better without them. Good luck in your search.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited July 2011
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Psssst....Don't tell anybody but you can save some dough and get one heck of a nice tubed pre here...

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121299

    He's a solid seller and I have personally heard this unit. You will not be disappointed. It does not have the "knobs of sin" on them but once you hear it, you'll discover that they are not needed and that the music sounds better without them. Good luck in your search.

    +1, if I had the $$ that would be in Arizona right now!
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited July 2011
    Cary,Rogue,Belles,and Joule to name a few more--I am surprised that fishbones' Cary is still here though.My guess is it won't last the weekend.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,414
    edited July 2011
    For that budget look into the dared sl2000A tube pre read the user threads everyone that has heard one (lncluding myself ) is amazed. Best bang for that price range I've heard period. Yes I bought one .
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
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  • quadzilla
    quadzilla Posts: 1,543
    edited July 2011
    You might also want to look at Conrad-Johnson. I found it to have a nice warmth that made me like CDs a lot more than I used to.
    Turntable: Empire 208
    Arm: Rega 300
    Cart: Shelter 501 III
    Phono Pre: dsachs consulting
    Digital: Marantz SACD 30n
    Pre: Conrad Johnson ET3 SE
    Amp: Conrad Johnson Premier 350
    Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference
    Speakers: SDA 2.3TL, heavily modified
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  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,068
    edited July 2011
    thsmith wrote: »
    I have these and liked them.

    Anthem Pre 2L
    Wright WLA12

    +1 on the Anthem Pre 2L. I really enjoy mine. If I didn't have the Anthem, I'd be all over that Cary mentioned above.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
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