ISO - Tubed pre-amp recommendations

heiney9 · April 30

I am starting a new journey to keep some tubes in the mix. I am also looking for something basic and simple. My philosophy has always been simple, well designed and built circuits with premium parts is best.

I don't need sub management, HT pass through, multiple variable outputs, phono, dac or streamer, etc capabilities. I do need remote and atleast 2 inputs. Use the 12A*7 family of tubes and variants. Although for specific choices I could do 6DJ8/ECC88 and in a rare case 6N11 and/or 6N6P.

Here's the big kicker as I'm cheap,,,,er...um. I mean value oriented. $2500 max. New or used. Preferably closer to $2K

. I've looked at 3 so far (on-line). No place for brick and mortar.

Rogue RP-3 (has a lot of stuff I won't use) - great rep uses 12AU7's
Lab12 Pre1 (uses 6922's, but only a pair, so not bad)
Galion TS P75 (uses (4) 12AT7, simple, well built w/exotic caps)

Here's the Galion, which has me intrigued. Made in China by Doge to specification.

https://www.galion-audio.com/pages/ts-p75-preamp

https://www.galion-audio.com/products/ts-p75-pre-amplifier

I have a great source for many types of NOS 12AT7 tubes.

Anyone know anything about this brand or have used/listened to it?

I am not in a hurry, I am going to do my research, but this is exactly what I'm looking for in a design and function.

Recommendations, discussions.......one thing I don't want is something older that may have to be serviced soon. That's why I'm looking new or a few years old.

H9

P.s. Yes, I'll be letting the Eastern Electric AVANT go. I have had a lot of fun with it and it still punches well above its price point.

pitdogg2 · April 30

https://www.ebay.com/itm/397267445820?

I've been using one for more than a decade.

Upstatemax · April 30

Used Prima Luna might be up your alley.

Current model, maybe something like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/366296776513?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=366296776513&targetid=2295557531510&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9004638&poi=&campaignid=21404249913&mkgroupid=173029508828&rlsatarget=pla-2295557531510&abcId=9450098&merchantid=6296724&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21404249913&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh-qwcn3LFi9n77wOLlVcv4Yz&gclid=CjwKCAjw-8vPBhBbEiwAoA39WgofLZGpIDkX7HFFeCS7Vaw9b0cZ_Jpq1OYBFKq-L-SVKJna71JEixoCGD8QAvD_BwE

I love my Prima Luna pre. They seem to be well designed and executed preamps.

heiney9 · April 30

Definitely a solid brand............but too many tubes. A small part of why I'm looking past the Avant is the tube rolling combo's are many, many more than I'm interested in doing these days. I had my fun.

H9

heiney9 · April 30

pitdogg2 wrote: »

https://www.ebay.com/itm/397267445820?

I've been using one for more than a decade.

Too many tubes..........I guess I didn't state that in the original post. I meant to.

4 tubes max and no tube rectifier tube this time. I have had so many profound changes with rectifier tubes it's driving me crazy. I feel like Golidlocks and the 3 bears.......

I need to some constants in the design of I'll go crazy...lol

H9

heiney9 · April 30

My original plan was to just find a Pass Labs XP-10 or XP-12 pre and call it done. But, the more I thought about it, I don't want to totally be tubeless. Even used they are still more than I'm comfortable spending at this moment. The economy, and closing in on retirement I just can't spend $4K+ on a used pre-amp. I'll need it for gas $$$ to get to work....lol

H9

WagnerRC · April 30

\consider this?

https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/181206/fs-joule-electra-mk-ii-835-00-shipped-conus#latest

nooshinjohn · April 30

Mcintosh C2200/C2300 would be fantastic choices.

heiney9 · April 30

....

H9

mhardy6647 · April 30

Maybe way off axis of what you seek, but a local hifi friend & fellow traveler brought one of these over one day. These were/are sold as kits and are often tarted up considerably with boutique parts. This one was somewhat tarted up, but the design is generally no-nonsense, the execution is good, and the sound was excellent.

Four 6SN7 and a 6X5 (?!) HV rectifier.

Vacuum Tube Audio SP14
https://www.tubes4hifi.com/SP14.htm

heiney9 · April 30

The SP13 could be a contender. I'll have to do some more research on parts selection.

H9

HzTweaker · 1:33AM

What about something like the Schiit Freya+F like:

https://www.schiit.com/products/freya-f

heiney9 · 10:35AM

HzTweaker wrote: »

What about something like the Schiit Freya+F like:

https://www.schiit.com/products/freya-f

I almost pulled the trigger twice for a noval edition as I don't want to collect yet another tube type (4) 6SN7's. I have 3 Schiit headphone tube amps already which I use in the office rig. A Valhalla 2 OTL, Lyr 2 and the new Lyr +. I used the Lyr+ in the main rig for awhile and Schiit products are really good, just not reference rig good, IMO. The house sound is a bit aggressive which doesn't seem to pair well with the rest of the main rig. I still look for a reasonably priced Freya Noval & if I find one I would probably grab it.

The Lyr+ uses a single 6SN7 of which I've collected over a dozen OS pieces. It's cool because it can switch to solid state and it has a 24 step ladder volume control and remote, which is unheard of at its price point.

It just didn't have enough tube flavor for the main rig and I didn't care for the SS. It's due for another go around in the main rig.

The Valhalla 2 (OTL) is my favorite in the office rig, used as a pre-amp. I have some fantastic 60's Russian tubes in it (6N1P or 6N23P and 6N6P) and it's superb with the Pass ACA and Eastern Electric Dac Plus w/DEXA discrete op-amps.

H9

P.s. both Lyr's will be coming up for sale.

bcwsrt · 11:18AM

Would the Rogue RP-1 appeal more than the RP-3? I don’t know what all the differences are, but the front panel is definitely simpler. No balanced ins or outs, though, if you’re looking for those.

The RP-1 is well-regarded, also. Rogue phono sections get high marks. So does their customer service.

I don’t have any experience with their dedicated pre-amps, but my Cronus integrated is super-responsive to 12au7 changes.

heiney9 · 11:36AM

I was looking at the Rogue RP-1. Talking with a seller, etc. Doing research, the RP-3 is a better match to the XA25. It has the newer architecture too, etc.

The RP-1 would work, but the research says the RP-3 will give much better performance, so that's where I'm leaning. The RP-3 is new, so finding used units isn't happening yet. I won't and don't ever pay new retail for any piece of gear.

I don't need a phono section, but it's probably good for resale.

I was also looking at a used RP-5, but it's at the top of the budget and v1 is older, perhaps older than I want to go at the top of my budget. v2's are over budget and then I feel like I might be paying for stuff I don't need.

Rogue has a great rep, that's why they are a front runner.

I can take my time. I am using the Pass DIY ACP+ pre-amp in the main rig now. It sounds really, really good. The Diy'er I purchase from put it in a true heavy chassis with a proper power supply and used upgraded parts. It's a good place holder, but it's not remote.

H9

pearsall001 · 1:02PM

I had the Rogue RP-1 a few years ago & I was a bit disappointed with it's sound signature.
It was as if it was a SS pre, not tubes. I think you have to move up in there lineup to actually get the tube signature sound & even then it can be very subjective.
If you do pickup a Rogue piece make sure it comes with a in home trial period.
Excellent build quality & one of the best companies out there that take care of there customers.

ISO - Tubed pre-amp recommendations

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