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I has been many years since I was into fidelity (20 yrs plus). Recently I sold some of my vintage equipments and started scrounging the internet for some high end equipments. I picked up a real nice BAT VK 60 amp last week and a recently refurbished set of Apogee Caliper Signature. However I am unable to enjoy any of it because I am still in need of a preamp or DAC combo. My question is should I go with a tube preamp or SS preamp. I am trying to keep it below 600-700. I have been eyeing the Eastern Electronic minimax DAC but they aren't really that many on the used market. Is there something comparable to such? In honesty I have no idea what I am looking for.
The BAT VK 60 is a nice amp....the times I've heard BAT equipment always sounded good with a tube preamp...and most of the time it was a BAT preamp.
That's what I was thinking. tinsoldier,Since you already have your amp and speaker chosen, that actually helps you weed out a couple of things that won't work. Here's what you already know about your amp/speaker combination:Your amp has a medium sensitivity of 1 volt input and your speakers have a low sensitivity of 86dB/3 ohms. That means you will most likely get the best sound with a standard, active preamplifier. In other words, you will probably run out of gas using a passive pre, a tube buffer, or a DAC with a volume control. They just won't be able to drive the amp with enough gusto to make the speakers boogie. There may be exceptions, but the odds are not in your favor to avoid a normal preamp.Your amp has balanced inputs, so whatever feeds it must have a balanced output. I would look at preamps that have balanced or XLR output connectors.Since you are just getting back into it, you may want the option to hook other things up to the system in the near future. A preamp is a good way to provide this facility.
Good info here. I'm not sure you'll be able to find a balanced tubed pre for $600-700. If you absolutely have to stick to that price point I'd say get a decent used non-balanced pre to get you by until you can afford to get a BAT pre. There are lots of used SS pres for that price and a few tubed pres. There are a number of good inexpensive budget DACs out there to get you by. I'd be sure to audition one against your source as, in my experience, the differences between good dacs are more subtle than the hype would suggest. I.E. you won't hear the same kind of difference in sound as you would with amps and preamps.
Here is an example of a balanced preamp very close to your budget. It took me all of one minute to find it, so don't be too hard on me : http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAHP3I think if you explore what's out there and maybe increase your budget a little, you can find a nice preamp for your amp. Don't get too sidetracked in the process , and have fun .
You don't *have* to buy a balanced pre to go with a balanced amp.
If the OP goes with the BAT amp, increasing the budget is necessary. IMO... if you are going to have separate components an active preamp is very important and one that won't sound worse than NOT having a preamp isn't going to be anywhere close to cheap. I'm not sure the budget is there even on the used market...
You are preaching to the choir Dave. . But asking someone to sell something they haven't even had a chance to enjoy yet seems counter productive to me. Especially since he just bought it and would like to hook it up and use it. The question is, what do I need to get my amp and speakers up and running? Get a preamp is my suggestion. Why make it more complicated than that? You have to start somewhere.
