Best Tube PreAmp under $500???

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CH46E
CH46E Posts: 3,595
in 2 Channel Audio
Are there any stereo tube preamps under $500 that have a plethora of input options to possible include Bluetooth under $500?

Looking to make some upgrades soon. My WorkHorse stock has done well.
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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
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    Actually illbuse the Emotiva Copper Bluetooth to rca adapter. So really just looking for some tube preamp recommendations. China-fi is ok too.
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,083
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    @pitdogg2 tell this man about your new preamp. I think it was a little more than $500 though.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
    edited October 2020
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    https://www.ebay.com/itm/HiFi-Stereo-Tube-Preamplifier-Class-A-Single-ended-XLR-Balanced-Audio-Preamp/254734958245 not $500 but looks interesting.

    r1xgov47vq3l.jpg

    55583796-89e4-48e2-ba57-46ecc1135472.jpg

    Check out the matching monoblocks: https://www.ebay.com/itm/283795859795

    5e6adncdztit.jpg

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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
    edited October 2020
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    SOB, its just happens to have VU meters. I miss my TFM45 I sold to Carlton @honestaquarian

    Ok so $300 more. Looks very interesting. Maybe I can sell something else. Hmmmm


    Thanks guys.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
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    This is supposedly another good one around that price: https://www.ebay.com/itm/YS-Audio-SYMPHONIES-PLUS-R-Remote-Tube-Preamplifier/190905561201
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
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    Very neat and tidy design there.
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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
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    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Twice what you are willing to spend, but for many, this is end-game...

    https://tmraudio.com/components/preamplifiers/rogue-audio-super-magnum-99-stereo-tube-preamplifier-ninety-nine-modified/

    Ok.... are you trying to get me killed? My wife would frag my **** the night after I got to enjoy it!
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
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    lol Rogue Audio is not "end game". Sorry.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
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    Cool, glad you had good luck with their gear. All I'm saying is that I politely disagree with them being an "end game" brand. YMMV.
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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
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    Well, my wife won't be so polite about it. :D
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
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    May I ask what aural attributes you are attempting to gain in moving toward a tube pre? Also, what are you using as your current preamp?
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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
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    I'm using my Yamaha Aventage RXA-1050 as a pre/pro. I use it for DTS-X, Atmos and 2 channel.

    That feeds into my Hafler XL600.

    I'm hoping to bring a little warmth and richness to my soon to be finished Infinity RSII for 2 channel use. I'm hoping a 2 channel dedicated tube pre will sound better than my AVR.

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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,603
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    I’ve had the Rogue 99, you would enjoy it.
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,562
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    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    CH46E wrote: »
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Twice what you are willing to spend, but for many, this is end-game...

    https://tmraudio.com/components/preamplifiers/rogue-audio-super-magnum-99-stereo-tube-preamplifier-ninety-nine-modified/

    Ok.... are you trying to get me killed? My wife would frag my **** the night after I got to enjoy it!

    The last smile on your face is all that matters.

    Just ask Nelson Rockefeller.
    :|
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  • jonicont
    jonicont Posts: 283
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    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    CH46E wrote: »
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    Twice what you are willing to spend, but for many, this is end-game...

    https://tmraudio.com/components/preamplifiers/rogue-audio-super-magnum-99-stereo-tube-preamplifier-ninety-nine-modified/

    Ok.... are you trying to get me killed? My wife would frag my **** the night after I got to enjoy it!

    The last smile on your face is all that matters.

    Just ask Nelson Rockefeller.
    :|

    😂

    DynaudIo Evoke 30, VPI Prime, Soundsmith Zephyr MKIII, PS audio Stellar phono pre, McCormack DNA 0.5 Gold, ARC LS-17se, Eversolo dmp A8, MIT AVT MA ic’s and speaker cables, ps audio stellar power plant 3
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  • honestaquarian
    honestaquarian Posts: 3,275
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    CH46E wrote: »
    SOB, its just happens to have VU meters. I miss my TFM45 I sold to Carlton @honestaquarian

    Ok so $300 more. Looks very interesting. Maybe I can sell something else. Hmmmm


    Thanks guys.

    Well you ain't gettin it or those white shirts back! :p:D;)
    So THERE
    NYAH! :p:p
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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
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    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Nightfall wrote: »
    @pitdogg2 tell this man about your new preamp. I think it was a little more than $500 though.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Silk-Audio-SA33T-Yaqin-manufactured-All-Tube-Preamplifier-US-Ship-Warranty/224164860149?hash=item34314450f5:g:qs8AAOSwGaVeSFxP

    Of course I removed the tube guard threw in some nos tubes and love it. No blue tooth anything, just a remote for volume and source select.
    Ray the owner of silk audio is good folk.

    That looks like a real possibility.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
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    Will you be needing HT bypass?
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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
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    Not exactly. I have open access the the rear of all my equipment. So changing a few rca cable is not a problem when going from HT to 2 channel.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,104
    edited October 2020
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    CH46E wrote: »
    I'm hoping to bring a little warmth and richness to my soon to be finished Infinity RSII for 2 channel use. I'm hoping a 2 channel dedicated tube pre will sound better than my AVR.

    I would assume that any 2-channel dedicated preamp, tube or otherwise, would have easily heard audible benefits over using an AVR as a pre.

    I struggle with the "warmth and richness" aspect that many enthusiasts seem to chase with tube gear. In my experience, competently designed tube preamps and power amps do not add abundant artificial coloration in the form of a warm, rich sound.

    Instead, I find them to provide excellent neutrality and tonal accuracy, with the tube element adding to the soundstage width, height, and dimensionality. 3D imaging cues are also quite abundant with well designed tube gear.

    Sure, a tube power amp will often give a different sensation of bass impact and power. Sometimes this mid-bass boost gives the illusion of additional richness. However, I think it's important to consider the type of music that you're listening to, and if that music itself has "warm and rich" characteristics to it to begin with. If not, I'm not sure I understand the desire to artificially add that after the fact. If you want to experiment with this, you could always put a tube buffer into the mix. I know Ivan has one that takes 6SN7 tubes that he's pleased with.

    Anyway, not trying to talk you out of a tube preamp, just sharing some of my experiences on the matter. Good luck with whatever direction you end up going in.
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  • Unknown
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    edited October 2020
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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
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    I do but I keep running into a ground loop issue. Pita.
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  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
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    Clipdat wrote: »
    CH46E wrote: »
    I'm hoping to bring a little warmth and richness to my soon to be finished Infinity RSII for 2 channel use. I'm hoping a 2 channel dedicated tube pre will sound better than my AVR.

    I would assume that any 2-channel dedicated preamp, tube or otherwise, would have easily heard audible benefits over using an AVR as a pre.

    I struggle with the "warmth and richness" aspect that many enthusiasts seem to chase with tube gear. In my experience, competently designed tube preamps and power amps do not add abundant artificial coloration in the form of a warm, rich sound.

    Instead, I find them to provide excellent neutrality and tonal accuracy, with the tube element adding to the soundstage width, height, and dimensionality. 3D imaging cues are also quite abundant with well designed tube gear.

    Sure, a tube power amp will often give a different sensation of bass impact and power. Sometimes this mid-bass boost gives the illusion of additional richness. However, I think it's important to consider the type of music that you're listening to, and if that music itself has "warm and rich" characteristics to it to begin with. If not, I'm not sure I understand the desire to artificially add that after the fact. If you want to experiment with this, you could always put a tube buffer into the mix. I know Ivan has one that takes 6SN7 tubes that he's pleased with.

    Anyway, not trying to talk you out of a tube preamp, just sharing some of my experiences on the matter. Good luck with whatever direction you end up going in.

    I hear what you are saying. I'm not a purist per say. I do like that amps sound different and or color the music a bit. So far my favorite "sounding" amp was my NAD 906 before it went south.

    I would love to use a tube amp but 5hats a no go for the RSII. At least not for one in my price range. So I figured a tube pre amp might do the trick.
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  • invalid
    invalid Posts: 1,559
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    All audio equipment colors the sound to some degree from the microphone to the speakers.
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