Tube Pre-amp Question

sda2mike

i'm back to serious lusting after a tube pre i've got it down to the dared sl-2000. my question is regarding the inputs...the dared has 2 inputs...i'd prob. want my cd player to go direct..that leaved me with: tube tuner, dvd, vcr, tv and in the future, the polk sattelite tuner...do i need 1 of those rca switch boxes..or, will i be losing alot of sq? should i keep a dedicated rcvr for ht stuff? thanks!

Dennis Gardner

I like the tube preamp for critical audio listening. Most video can run through the receiver, since the video takes away from the audio experience. I actually use my tube preamp as a buffer inline with my HK AVR with decent results since me pre has 4 inputs. This is how I use TV, and VCR. For TT, CD, DVD music, I like a more direct path.

You may still find yourself switching some audio by hand to get the most direct route to great sound.

W WALDECKER

Dennis, how do you like your audio experience mk ll tube preamp ? my Anthem pre 1L tubed pre is due here tomorrow and i cant wait to hook it up when i get home from work. how do you think the mono extremes will sound with a tube preamplifier ?

Dennis Gardner

I got an extreme amount of "bloom" in the midrange and highs with the AE mkII on my Stratos. There is simply no comparison with any other preamp setup I have used. The Odyssey represents everything I could ask for in a power amp when used with tubes. It is truely like a velvet hammer, smooth and hard hitting.

I will find my way into Mono Extremes in the next year to get the most out of my SDAs, but will stay with a tube preamp to get the best of both worlds.

W WALDECKER

whoops!

W WALDECKER

quite a few of the odyssey amplifier owners on the audio circles website use tubed preamplifiers. i looked at a post asking what preamps they were using and over 50% responded they were using tubed preamps. until i took an interest in tubes i never noticed this trend...........................WCW III

Dennis Gardner

I have found Odyssey to be simply the best amplifier value period..... for anyone seeking a mid/hi-fi amp that can do all things well with the only downsides being the large physical size and bragging rights changing from "how much you spent, to how much you saved". There is a Kraft 250 on Audiogon right now for over $5k. It was $15 K new. Nearly identical to what Klaus sells for around $1k.

Nothing sounds quite the same from any other amp I have recently owned when I A/B against the Stratos. Adding the tube pre only strengthened my opinion of the amp. I have a HK Citation 24 amp that I thought was nice until I realized how flat and lifeless it sounded next to the Stratos.

Let me know how you like the Anthem, they are top shelf offerings too.

reeltrouble1

SDA2M,

Maybe I am getting a little daft, but I dont exactly get the point of adding tubes and then running the cdp direct to the amp. BTW, I really enjoy the xm sattelite radio with tubes.

sda2mike

reeltrouble1 wrote:

SDA2M,

Maybe I am getting a little daft, but I dont exactly get the point of adding tubes and then running the cdp direct to the amp. BTW, I really enjoy the xm sattelite radio with tubes.

sorry, i meant direct to the pre....without the mentioned switchbox

W WALDECKER

Dennis Gardner wrote:

I have found Odyssey to be simply the best amplifier value period..... for anyone seeking a mid/hi-fi amp that can do all things well with the only downsides being the large physical size and bragging rights changing from "how much you spent, to how much you saved". There is a Kraft 250 on Audiogon right now for over $5k. It was $15 K new. Nearly identical to what Klaus sells for around $1k.

Nothing sounds quite the same from any other amp I have recently owned when I A/B against the Stratos. Adding the tube pre only strengthened my opinion of the amp. I have a HK Citation 24 amp that I thought was nice until I realized how flat and lifeless it sounded next to the Stratos.

Let me know how you like the Anthem, they are top shelf offerings too.

hey,Dennis i just got home from work and the Anthem pre1L was sitting on my doorstep so i took it in and unpacked it. inside was a box with the four 1970s 6922 EH Russian tubes. all were tested and rated A for noise and A for microphonics by upscale audio. a #1 phillips head screwdriver. the rest of the screws for the top cover.spare fuses and a IEC powercord but no white cotton gloves. oh well! i removed the six remaining screws from the top cover and reached into my sock drawer and pulled out a white cotton sock. time to improvise. i installed the tubes in there coresponding sockets and proceeded to hook this baby up! i used my very best Groneberg TS premium ic cables from the cd to the preamp and from the preamp to the mono extremes and hooked the Signal magic reference powercord to the Anthem pre1L and put Michael Hedges breakfast in the field cd in my Symphonic Line Vibrato cd player and turned the preamp on. now i see why a lot of people love the sound of a tube preamp in thier system. this Anthem preamp is clear as a bell and very smooth without sounding euphonic.i think im in love! it also came with the owners manual and the condition is absolutely flawless. in fact it looks brand new. i bought it from upscale audio in California and they have a seven day return policy but this baby is not going anywhere! thanks..............................WCW III

ND13

W WALDECKER wrote:

hey,Dennis i just got home from work and the Anthem pre1L was sitting on my doorstep so i took it in and unpacked it. inside was a box with the four 1970s 6922 EH Russian tubes. all were tested and rated A for noise and A for microphonics by upscale audio. a #1 phillips head screwdriver. the rest of the screws for the top cover.spare fuses and a IEC powercord but no white cotton gloves. oh well! i removed the six remaining screws from the top cover and reached into my sock drawer and pulled out a white cotton sock. time to improvise. i installed the tubes in there coresponding sockets and proceeded to hook this baby up! i used my very best Groneberg TS premium ic cables from the cd to the preamp and from the preamp to the mono extremes and hooked the Signal magic reference powercord to the Anthem pre1L and put Michael Hedges breakfast in the field cd in my Symphonic Line Vibrato cd player and turned the preamp on. now i see why a lot of people love the sound of a tube preamp in thier system. this Anthem preamp is clear as a bell and very smooth without sounding euphonic.i think im in love! it also came with the owners manual and the condition is absolutely flawless. in fact it looks brand new. i bought it from upscale audio in California and they have a seven day return policy but this baby is not going anywhere! thanks..............................WCW III

There you go. I'm right there wich ya. Glorious isn't it?

W WALDECKER

i like the sound of this tubed preamplifier very much! it is a pleasant suprise. my tempest is a great ss preamp but the tubes add something that ss cant.

ND13

W WALDECKER wrote:

i like the sound of this tubed preamplifier very much! it is a pleasant suprise. my tempest is a great ss preamp but the tubes add something that ss cant.

It gets better with different tubes, too.