Gonna test drive some new to me preamps this weekend

muncybob

My one and only local audio shop has 3 preamps for me to try out. I went to them a month ago letting them know that I think it's time to try a new pre and asked if they had anything I could just try out...no strings attached but would def be interested in buying if it floats my boat. He gave me a Parasound Z-pre but unfortunately the left channel did not work...something wrong with the board and he's getting it replaced.
Yesterday one of employees called to let me know he has 3 to try out: Yamaha C-80, Dynaco Pas 4 and Conrad Johnson PV2. The latter may be out of my budget($400 max) for now but he wants me to try it out anyhow.

Also has a Quicksilver sitting there, but he spoke very highly of the CJ. There was something that had a cloth cover over it and when he lifted the cover a Rogue Audio tube amp had me drooling. Looking forward to this weekend!

vc69

That PV2 is an excellent pre.

muncybob

Of course it is, it's the one outside my budget! I think he said $700.

vc69

Fair price and worth holding out for. The other two are not in the same league. Tube rolling in that CJ will take you where you want to go.

muncybob

So I played a bit last night with the 3 preamps. Not realy enough time though, but I did realize that a new pre is something I want to consider...too bad none have remotes though!

The Yammy was 1st and was an improvement with tone controls defeated. Using the tone controls made the music too boomy or edgy if turning the knobs past 1 o'clock. Interesting part of this pre is the adjustable phono stage, but since my slyus was just shipped yesterday from Japan I don't know if I'll still have this pre when it arrives.

Next was the PAS-4. I don't know what tubes are in it and I have read that swapping out any 6922 tubes for 6N1P will make an improvement. I plan to open it up tonight and take a peak although I don't have any tubes on hand...heck, I've never even taken a tube out before! I was very favorably impressed with the sound. Smoother highs than the Yammy and nice mids with a broader soundstage.

So I saved the CJ for the final audition fully expecting it to blow away the other 2 just based on reputation. Again, I was pleased with the sound...seemed to offer a bit deeper bass and a bit better soundstage. But, it did not "blow away" the PAS-4 by any means. I have to say that at less than 1/2 the price of the CJ the PAS-4 holds it's own thus far....much more listening is in order though.

So I'm starting to think tubes are the way to go. I know nothing about rolling tubes...how do you know what to try?

EndersShadow

muncybob wrote: »

how do you know what to try?

ask @heiney9 , @DSkip , @marvda1

vc69

Cool! You heard the characteristic differences, so you should be able to tweak either of the tube preamps to taste by rolling some different tubes in. I would search around for what other users found to be an improvement. The guys here, particularly f1nut and heiny9 were extremely helpful in pointing me toward tubes that I might like in my VTL.