Tube Preamp suggestions

POLKHT

I'm looking for a tube preamp, with these requirements.

1) Budget priced and inexpensive, under 200.00 used.
2) 2 to 3 inputs and 2 outputs.
3) remote for the volume control.

This will be my first tube preamp. Not sure if I can get one at this price with these features.

Thanks.

nooshinjohn

in that price range, I wish I could make one. You sir are looking for a silver needle in a huge pile of other needles.
The only thing I can suggest is to make a trip on over to Ebay and search for tube preamps within that price range and then research a bit about what you find there...

Good luck and stay thirsty my friend.

organ

At $200 you won't find one with a remote. In fact, A LOT of higher priced tube pre amps don't have one.

Honestly, you're better off saving more money and look at the new and used offerings in the $500 range.
If you want to try tubes for $200 or less, you can try one of those Yaqin tube buffers. There is the Antique Sound Lab AQ 2004 DT preamp you should be able to find used for $200 or less, but if you're planning to use a SS amp, it can be very tricky. The ASL feeding the fixed RCA inputs produced an audible hum. I had to use the variable input on the amp. Most amps don't have this feature. That's one issue you have to consider when pairing a tube pre to a SS amp. Sometimes the output impedance of the tube pre is not a good match with the input impedance of the amp.

tonyb

POLKHT wrote: »

I'm looking for a tube preamp, with these requirements.

1) Budget priced and inexpensive, under 200.00 used.
2) 2 to 3 inputs and 2 outputs.
3) remote for the volume control.

This will be my first tube preamp. Not sure if I can get one at this price with these features.

Thanks.

Might as well ask for a free one. Even used I'd highly doubt you'd find one with those features for 2 bones. Lets not forget the costs of tube rolling either. Maybe you should rethink this or find a SS pre amp. Older B&k or Parrasound, Nad, pre's are pretty darn good to get you started on your path while saving some coin. Also look at Dared or Yaqin for good starter units into the tube world.

Another option is a tube buffer which can be had used for 100 bucks. No volume control and only single inputs/outputs but will give you a taste of the tube sound.

polkfarmboy

Does that budget include the shipping too :biggrin:

Sprags

$200 for a tube preamp?!? I done even think the cheap Chinese tube preamps which usually don't even work will sell for that low of a price.

What's the point of a tube preamp with a SS amp anyway?

polkfarmboy

Sprags wrote: »

What's the point of a tube preamp with a SS amp anyway?

You have to do more reading on the forum

POLKHT

I may be crazy. I understand that it is going to be difficult, to impossible to find one at that price range with those features. That's why I am asking the very knowledgeable people here.

Organ, I was looking into a ASL AQ2004, and may get one. No remote is the only reason why I have not bought one yet.

Keiko, I know people here like the Dared a lot, and that may be a option, but I'm not a fan of the looks and lacks more than one input.

Tonyb, Sprags, Polkfarmboy, I have SS preamps. I'm currently using a Acurus Act-3 and have tried a few Adcoms. I want to try a tube pre. In addition, it's not going to be hooked up to SS amp. I have a pair of monoblock tube amps I'm going to use.

I am hoping that a pre such as a ASL AQ2004 or something similar, will sound better than the SS pres that I currently have.

Anymore suggestions and Thanks.

POLKHT

Additional question? If I'm using a tube amp, will it sound better hooked up to a tube pre vs. a SS pre? I am assuming that it will.

Thanks.

polkfarmboy

What kind of tube mono's do you have?

W WALDECKER

Several years ago before I went to all tubes I ran a Musical Fidelity X10 tube buffer connected between a SS preamplifier and SS power amplifier and it made the system sound better until I saved up enough to get a good tube preamplifier. get something like this as a stop gap measure http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-yaquin-tube-buffer-preamp-upgraded-vintage-usa-tubes-ex-sound-nicely-built-ac-power-s-2013-04-09-preamplifiers-32547 and save up until you can buy exactly what you want.

Sprags

POLKHT wrote: »

I may be crazy. I understand that it is going to be difficult, to impossible to find one at that price range with those features. That's why I am asking the very knowledgeable people here.

Organ, I was looking into a ASL AQ2004, and may get one. No remote is the only reason why I have not bought one yet.

Keiko, I know people here like the Dared a lot, and that may be a option, but I'm not a fan of the looks and lacks more than one input.

Tonyb, Sprags, Polkfarmboy, I have SS preamps. I'm currently using a Acurus Act-3 and have tried a few Adcoms. I want to try a tube pre. In addition, it's not going to be hooked up to SS amp. I have a pair of monoblock tube amps I'm going to use.

I am hoping that a pre such as a ASL AQ2004 or something similar, will sound better than the SS pres that I currently have.

Anymore suggestions and Thanks.

I suggest a custom US built tube preamp from http://www.tubes4hifi.com/home.html. I bought both an amp and preamp from this company owned by 2 guys that sell kits plus built amps and preamps. The preamp builder has a preamp built in a custom enclosure that sounds fantastic. It's dead quiet when it's supposed to be, no hiss, no hum and impressive in the dynamics and soundstage. Check out the Dynaco forum. He has it listed there for $500 but I bet he'd come down to $425 or $450. The preamp is based on a design he assembles in a conventional case for $990. I personally heard the preamp. It's quite impressive. Unless you want to settle for a Chinese built preamp that may look prettier but more than likely sound like crap. My only other suggestion is trying Audiogon or eBay. But I can't speak for anything from there.

POLKHT

polkfarmboy wrote: »

What kind of tube mono's do you have?

I have a pair of Cary Audio

POLKHT

....

zingo

W WALDECKER wrote: »

Several years ago before I went to all tubes I ran a Musical Fidelity X10 tube buffer connected between a SS preamplifier and SS power amplifier and it made the system sound better until I saved up enough to get a good tube preamplifier.

I'll echo this as I run a passive preamp with a tube buffer at it's output. It's a great combo, and can be found for less money than a tube preamp if you buy used.

mhardy6647

except for the remote - here's your bang for the buck champion (unless you need more gain)... http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php/products/quickie-battery-tube-preamplifier

There are 'aftermarket' options for remote volume control... there are also standalone remote-controllable switch boxes, so the other parameters the OP seeks could be retrofit to the "Quickie" reasonably inexpensively.

EndersShadow

mhardy6647 wrote: »

except for the remote - here's your bang for the buck champion (unless you need more gain)... http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php/products/quickie-battery-tube-preamplifier

There are 'aftermarket' options for remote volume control... there are also standalone remote-controllable switch boxes, so the other parameters the OP seeks could be retrofit to the "Quickie" reasonably inexpensively.

I friggin hate you right now! (actually its a sense of love and frustration misconstrued as hate). Why must you show me exactly what I am looking for lol!

Looks like one of these puppies will be in my future, just need to look at those aftermarket remote options (and if input switching can be included), and also factor in a Hagerman Bugle 2 (not available just yet) in the mix....

mhardy6647

mmm-hmm...
I'm dyin' to build one (and it's a profound understatement to say that I don't need one...)!

EDIT: spend a few more bucks and go for the Hagerman Coronet2 - it's a dang good sounding phono preamp :-)