The contendors for Tube Pre Amps found..... and the competition starts

Sumerian
Sumerian Posts: 490
edited September 2013 in Speakers
I was on and off about adding tube pre amp to go along with my LSIM...


But after reading through overwhelming reviews and after the recent recomendations/suggestions from the fellow polkies the fire which was ignited by Audio Guru Jesse is now turned in to a inferno.


I only way to bring that inferno down is to acquire the damn tube as soon as possible.


To start with and to make things easier these are the ones i would like to investigate and see which one of these is strong enough to bring that fire down like Looks...Specs....Customer support.....Realiable....long life.....


Cary SLP-98 F1

VTL 2.5 /5.5

Joule LA-150 MkII

Audio Research SP16 /LS26

Conrad-Johnson CT-5


I would like to know, if any of you have you owned one of these? and what is your take? Likes/dislikes etc..,

Or do you have a worthy contender to be placed along with this list?

As always your time and replies are highly appreciated.


Thanks in advance.
Post edited by Sumerian on
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Comments

  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,461
    edited September 2013
    I have never heard a tiube pre. Does Emo make one?:mrgreen:
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • Sumerian
    Sumerian Posts: 490
    edited September 2013
    DSkip wrote: »
    Tubes will ruin you...

    in a good way or bad way?
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,002
    edited September 2013
    In a good way for sound.....in a bad way for your wallet.
    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
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    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,195
    edited September 2013
    Very bad way. Each one comes with their own sound. This can be good or bad and that completely resides on what tubes lie within. You are on the right path though, if I do say so myself...

    Tom
    ~ 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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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,513
    edited September 2013
    The VTL 2.5 is a good pre amp. My bud Norm had one so it made it over here to my place. Mullard CV4003 and Sylvania 6350's gave it a nice sound with a good bottom end.

    The Audio Research SP16 will be a bit more defined with better soundstage. Like Tom said they each have a signature sound so you need to experience one to know what you want more or less of.

    I have experience with a Conrad Johnson Premier ACT2, but not the CT-5.



    No experience with service on ones I mentioned.
    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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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited September 2013
    While I can't comment on any of the pres you have listed, considering the speaker set-up you are going to have, I would recommend a pre with the "Home Theater Bypass" function.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited September 2013
    I have a. Sp16. It replaced a ss McIntosh. I will say the McIntosh was warmer vs the ar sp16! The stock tubes are bass shy but fast jn the highs. I replaced them with some late 50 tungsol so it had more bass but kept the fast clean highs. I have also tried rca 3mica also but for my legacy speakers, I feel the tongsol was a better fit. No even though the McIntosh ss was warmer sounding the ar sp16 soundstage and speed of the highs sounded way better on my rig.

    What kind of sound are you looking for? As stated, each of the preamps you listed has a unique sound
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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