[AmpDesigner333]

Looking for suggestions, especially from those driving a DAC4800A or Cherry amp...

[TomS]

I have the Atma-Sphere linestage only version of the MP-1, called the MLS-1 and really like it.  It is truly differential all the way from input to output.  Various other balanced pre's are available from BAT, Audio Research, Modwright (LS36.5).

Tom

[mfsoa]

You know what I'm gonna say    but for other's who might be interested:

I've used my VAC Standard MKII with probably all of your amps, and it has always been a superb match.

There is quite a bit of gain, though, so I can only use maybe 25% of the volume knob rotation (except if you come over, than it's 35%, or 40% for Raves  )

Until I bought a Cherry JR, I was reluctant to invest in XLR ICs although Tommy had been loaning me amps in order to sink the hook. I did borrow some Tara XLRs for my last Rave and the sound was excellent. I bought some IXOS XLRs from Shane for cheap, and they sound much much better than with any combo of RCAs with adapters I had tried.

Don't know if that's the preamp working better, the lack of adapters or the amp being fed what it "natively" wants to see, but I'm not complaining.

-Mike

[AmpDesigner333]

Here's a balanced tube preamp list I found on Audiogon:

Here are those with balanced in to out.
** denotes balanced from input to output.
? denotes not known whether balanced throughout.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
?Accuphase C-2810 (2 xlr)
?Accuphase C-2410 (2 xlr)
**Aestehtix Janus (2 xlr)$6,500 --$3,810
**Aesthetix Calypso (2 xlr) $4,500 --$2,840
**AtmaSphere Music Preamplifier MP3 (option) $4,750 --$2,500
**AtmaSphere New Music Preamplifier MP1 Mk. III (option) $13,000 --$8,000
Audio Horizons TP 2.1 (option) $2,095 --$1,150
**Audio Research LS26 (2 xlr) $6,000 --$4,000
**Audio Research Reference 3 (2 xlr) $10,000 --$5,500
Audionet Pre G2 (2 xlr)
Audiovalve Eklipse (unbalanced at 1 xlr) $4,600
**Ayre KX-R (2 xlr) $18,500 --$10,000
**BAT 51 SE (? xlr) $9,000 --$4,300
**BAT 52 SE (2 xlr) $10,500 --$6,800
**BAT REX (2 xlr) $20,000 --$12,600
?Belles 28A (No info, The 21 has 1 xlr unbalanced)
**Cary slp05 (on special order) $7,500 --$4,000
**Classe CP700 (2 xlr) $7,000 --$3,750
**Classe CP500 (1xlr) $3,500 --$2,000
?Esoteric C03 PreAmp (new)(1 xlr output)
?Jeff Rowland Capri (option? 1 Bal-XLR, 1 Unb-RCA std) $2,700 --$2,000
?Jeff Rowland Concerto (std) $3,900 --$2,600
?Jeff Rowland Criterion (std) $18,000 --$12,000
?Herron Audio (not balanced)
**Mcintosh C500 (2 xlr) c500t $12,000 --$7,600
?Music First Audio MK II Preamplifier (TVC)
?Music First Audio Reference Preamplifier (TVC, Appears to have 2 xlr)
?Pass Labs XP20 (1 xlr) $8,600 --$5,300
?Plinius Tautoro (2 xlr) $8,350 --$5,200
Promitheus Audio Reference Ccore TVC (option)
?Rogue Audio Hera (2 xlr)
**SimAudio P7 $5,500 --$4,000
**Simaudio P8 (2 xlr)$11,000 --$7,600
?Sonic Frontiers Line3 $5,000 --$2,400
?Sonic Frontiers line3 se $6,000 --$3,200
?Supratek Dual Cabernet (appears as 1 xlr)
**VAC Phi Beta (2 xlr) $15,000 --$7,500
**VTL 7.5 (2 xlr) $10,000 --$7,000
**VTL 7.5 sII $16,000 --$8,800
**?YS Audio BALANCED A2 (2 xlr) a2se $1,500 --$750

However, these may be all units with dual outputs...

[Levi]

You have it right with the BAT 51SE (2 xlr).  It is also a dual-mono topology.  Just an fyi.