Tubes... specifically pre's

EndersShadow
EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
edited January 2013 in 2 Channel Audio
This thread is for INFORMATION only. I dont have cash to buy now, but want to know what kind of money I need saved back for something like this.

I am newly into tubes with a small little tube amp. I am wanting to later on also get a tubed pre.

I need/want the following items in the pre:

1. Phono input
2. Remote
3. Preferred but not required - SPDIF or Coaxial input
4. Preferred but not required - 2 outputs


Thats about all I want from it.

Anyone have any suggestions for a decent tubed pre that meets those criteria, or thoughts on how much something like that will run me? I am not wanting to spend 2k here, but I realize it might take a mid-range tubed pre to have all these items and I am ok with that, I just want to know what my options are out there.

I also realize I could get a phono pre, and a USB DAC (to replace the SPDIF/Coaxial input) but eventually the cost for decent phono pre's and DAC's start to make it counter productive when you then add the cost for good IC's....
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
Post edited by EndersShadow on
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Comments

  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    edited January 2013
    Most tubed pre's are analog devices, finding one with a digital input means finding one with a dac in it. Some are out there but cost wise can get into the thousands. Depends on budget. Your better off getting a dac so you have at least 3 different digital inputs.

    Musical fidelity has usb inputs on most of their integrateds, Cary has some too but mostly on a HT pre, not a 2 channel pre. Same with Classe, HT pre's yeah, 2 channel nay.

    For what you want, it's better looking at a integrated for a usb input and a phono stage. Can always buy these seperate too which gives you more flexability to taylor your sound.

    A Dared pre....500 new, a decent dac add another 500, and a decent phono, 200. For 1200 bucks you won't find a tubed pre with all you want.
    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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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited January 2013
    Man... why did you have to start this. I've been real unhappy with my B&K pre. I can't get tubes off my mind or the thought of a little Dared pre.

    Money is always the issue. Damn this greedy, greedy world.
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited January 2013
    I think you need to eliminate the whole digital input thing. Get a separate DAC and use that as an input into your pre. Preamps with onboard DACs are known as pre/pro's, generally more in the home theater space and seldomly use tubes. Just stick with a basic preamp. I recently conducted a search almost exactly the same as yours, and settled on the Dared MC-7P, which I'm totally happy with. Great phono stage, plus an additional three line inputs and two outputs. I upgraded all the coupling caps to Auricaps, and I really love the piece. The remote is for volume only, you still need to physically adjust the input on the unit in order to switch sources.

    http://dared.us/products_mc7p.php
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • Drenis
    Drenis Posts: 2,871
    edited January 2013
    I know part of my problem is using the DAC in my Squeezebox Touch direct into my B&K PT3 Pre. However, I'm not digging the digital volume control over a pot... maybe it's just the model of pre I'm using. A 2000A Dared pre works great as I only will use it for strictly 2 channel.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited January 2013
    The ModWright LS 100 is a 6SN7 tube pre, has on board option for his DAC or phono board, but not both. They go for ~$2K - $2200 used without DAC or phono board.

    The ModWright SWLP 9.0SE is a 5687 tube pre, has his SWP onboard phono stage in it, and I find it hard to let go because of the phono stage.

    I've both heard and had some nice Rouge pres here with onboard phono too.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    edited January 2013
    I don't think the OP wants to spend 2 g's Rich, thats why I think if he wants new he's better off going the chinese tube gear route to get his feet wet. Dared, Yaqin, and others may fit the bill for him. Either way, he has to get a budget in mind otherwise suggestions will be all over the place. The Dared MC7P mentioned earlier seems like a winner, just add a dac and your good to go.
    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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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited January 2013
    And FWIW, I recently sold my W4S Dac2 and got a Marantz SA8004 sacd player, which has a great Dac with digital inputs. It can be found open-box for $800. I'm thrilled with it, because it's a great Dac for my Squeezebox and I can also play sacd's (and cd's to...)
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    edited January 2013
    nspindel wrote: »
    And FWIW, I recently sold my W4S Dac2 and got a Marantz SA8004 sacd player, which has a great Dac with digital inputs. It can be found open-box for $800. I'm thrilled with it, because it's a great Dac for my Squeezebox and I can also play sacd's (and cd's to...)

    Interesting thought, not too many players with digital inputs out there. Have any observations on the SQ differences between the W4S and the Marantz ? Also did you ever try using the dac as a pre too ?
    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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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited January 2013
    I think the W4S was slightly better. But I mean slightly! But it's a lot more money, and now I can play SACD. The reviews of the Marantz I read said it was basically like buying a really good Dac that is worth the retail price of the unit, and get an SACD player for free. Buy it open box with full warranty for a few hundred less, and it's a great deal!
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2013
    nspindel wrote: »
    I think you need to eliminate the whole digital input thing. Get a separate DAC and use that as an input into your pre. Preamps with onboard DACs are known as pre/pro's, generally more in the home theater space and seldomly use tubes. Just stick with a basic preamp. I recently conducted a search almost exactly the same as yours, and settled on the Dared MC-7P, which I'm totally happy with. Great phono stage, plus an additional three line inputs and two outputs. I upgraded all the coupling caps to Auricaps, and I really love the piece. The remote is for volume only, you still need to physically adjust the input on the unit in order to switch sources.

    http://dared.us/products_mc7p.php
    nspindel wrote: »
    And FWIW, I recently sold my W4S Dac2 and got a Marantz SA8004 sacd player, which has a great Dac with digital inputs. It can be found open-box for $800. I'm thrilled with it, because it's a great Dac for my Squeezebox and I can also play sacd's (and cd's to...)
    tonyb wrote: »
    Interesting thought, not too many players with digital inputs out there. Have any observations on the SQ differences between the W4S and the Marantz ? Also did you ever try using the dac as a pre too ?

    Those are both good thoughts.

    I realize the digital in's may kill it and so that may be just something I have to get a good DAC for or be willing to drop the big cash on the pre. I like the Dared MC-7P suggestion as well as the thought of using the Marantz, however not sure how that would end up actually looking.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • nspindel
    nspindel Posts: 5,343
    edited January 2013
    Check out the 6th pic in post 3 of my 4.1TL thread:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?137026-My-new-4.1TL-s-are-complete!
    Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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  • rromeo923
    rromeo923 Posts: 1,513
    edited January 2013
    This is a great option for getting tube pre w/phono and 1 linestage plus extra very nice tubes for rolling and extremely affordable.

    and Yes I have an affiliation!!!

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?139014-Yaqin-MS-12b-phono-and-linestage-pre-w-extra-tubes!
    I got static in my head
    The reflected sound of everything
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited January 2013
    rromeo923 wrote: »
    This is a great option for getting tube pre w/phono and 1 linestage plus extra very nice tubes for rolling and extremely affordable.

    and Yes I have an affiliation!!!

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?139014-Yaqin-MS-12b-phono-and-linestage-pre-w-extra-tubes!

    That is nice. Right now I am tapped out on funds or I would seriously think about it...

    If its got a remote, PM Drenis and see if he wants it....
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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