Tube Pre Amp Thoughts

mcgsxr · « **on:** 19 Sep 2004, 11:07 pm »

I am usually caught in planning my system well ahead of my budget, and this is no exception, but I would like to ask you all a couple of questions, about tube pre amps that you would suggest I hunt, to meet the following constraints.

1. Budget - US$500.
2. New or used, doesn't matter.
3. Tubes must be contained in a chassis ala Audcom 120 - no exposed tubes, due to 9 month old daughter...
4. Must be remote controlled. I am now a lazier wanker then ever, since the introduction of this nasty beast - I lasted 10 years without one, doubt I can go back.
5. Must have 2 sets of outputs. OR, must be something that someone reputable can mod to have 2 sets of outputs.
6. Preferably black, but since I am not opposed to DIY appearance modification, I guess this does not matter much...
7. To be used with a Teac Tripath amp, so single ended connections required.
8. Number of inputs not relevant, I am a single front end user.

Anybody suggest I look for something other than the Audcom 120, that meets all my req's, BUT is no longer distributed well... Sekei is out of them, Paul at Bizzy Bee sells only his modded versions (out of my budget).

Just thought I would toss this one out for playing around with.

Mark in Canada

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 Sep 2004, 11:25 pm »

Mark,

Sure you don't want it to also cook and clean?

Man, you are asking for a lot of features for $500 and I am not sure you can get it.

Can you either change your budget or feature set?

George

mcgsxr · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 Sep 2004, 11:34 pm »

Cooking and cleaning optional, though likely to GROSSLY improve the WAF...

Well, I know that the Audcom does it all, but I wonder if anything else does?

OK, for fun, let's double the budget - it will take me twice as long to raise the $$, but since I am interested in opinion, let's call it US$1000 new or used, and as close to the specs as I can get.

Does that increase my chances, or just mean that I am duty bound to hunt down the darn Audcom...

Mark in Canada

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 Sep 2004, 11:52 pm »

I think the remote part will be the hardest.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 12:41 am »

Used McIntosh's.....with remotes..... Check a few of these.

Or a Quicksilver...tubes and remote..... http://www.quicksilveraudio.com/products/remote.html [/list:u]Search performed on google.....remote controlled tube preamp.

dado5 · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 02:12 am »

Transcendent Sound's Grounded Grid pre kit is in your ball park. Very highly rated. Tubes are enclosed. Technically it has multiple inputs, but no reason why one cannot be wired as an output instead. It has low output impedence and moderate gain (12dB) so it should work grand with a solid state amp.

No remote volume feature, but you can get kits from AES and DIYcable for an extra cent or so. I think there is plenty of space in the chassis for one of these.

http://www.transcendentsound.com/preamp%20kit.htm

Good luck,
Rob

claud · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 02:24 am »

You might get a used Cary SLP 88 for $1000 on Agon. It meets your enclosed and remote requests. I think there is a review on Positive feedback or another webzine with a Rocket 88.

kyyuan · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 02:49 am »

Quote from: mcgsxr

Cooking and cleaning optional, though likely to GROSSLY improve the WAF...

Well, I know that the Audcom does it all, but I wonder if anything else does?

OK, for fun, let's double the budget - it will take me twice as long to raise the $$, but since I am interested in opinion, let's call it US$1000 new or used, and as close to the specs as I can get.

Does that increase my chances, or just mean that I am duty bound to hunt down the darn Audcom...

Mark in Canada

How about a used Sonic Frontier Line-1 Special Edition? I have one for sale.

Irrespective of my pandering, it's a nice unit for the money.

jswallac · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 04:14 am »

Mark,

You may want to look at the Audio Mirror preamps. I believe they run about $600, but are drop dead beautiful and do all that you ask (except the cooking and cleaning part!) One model even has a tubed phono stage if you need that. Both have remote (volume, mute, and input), along with two sets of outputs for biamping. http://www.audiomirror.com Not quite as cheap as the Audcom, but close. Also, I believe somebody going by the name "The Tuner Guy" carries the Audcom, but at a much higher cost than Sekei use to.

jswallac · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 04:15 am »

Mark,

You may want to look at the Audio Mirror preamps. I believe they run about $600, but are drop dead beautiful and do all that you ask (except the cooking and cleaning part!) One model even has a tubed phono stage if you need that. Both have remote (volume, mute, and input), along with two sets of outputs for biamping. http://www.audiomirror.com Not quite as cheap as the Audcom, but close. Also, I believe somebody going by the name "The Tuner Guy" carries the Audcom, but at a much higher cost than Sekei use to.

jswallac · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 03:26 pm »

There is an Audcom 110 on ebay from a Canadian seller. The pre is claimed to be new, although the 110 was replaced by the 120 some time ago. The price is also a little high given it is a discontinued model. It does, however, still have a remote and two outputs. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14974&item=5721672108&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

mcgsxr · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 03:54 pm »

Thanks for the suggestions, looks like there are several options available to me, once the $$ is raised.

I know of that Audcom 110, but suspect that it is overpriced, and no longer current. Omar at OZ Enterprises is great to deal with though.

If anyone knows of any other pre's out there that approach my admittedly stringent specs, I would appreciate the information.

Mark in Canada

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 04:12 pm »

If you're really set on that price point and feature set, maybe you could consider buying straight from China or HK. The prices are way down, but the shipping is somewhat up - but you get access to all sorts of hard to find Chinese gear. Cattylink.com comes to mind.

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 04:41 pm »

You might want to look at Quicksilver preamps.

doug s. · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 08:27 pm »

Quote from: mcgsxr

I am usually caught in planning my system well ahead of my budget, and this is no exception, but I would like to ask you all a couple of questions, about tube pre amps that you would suggest I hunt, to meet the following constraints.

1. Budget - US$500.
2. New or used, doesn't matter.
3. Tubes must be contained in a chassis ala Audcom 120 - no exposed tubes, due to 9 month old daughter...
4. Must be remote controlled. I am now a lazier wanker then ever, since the introduction of this nasty beast ...

check yer private messages...

doug s.

Jeff Aguilar · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 08:46 pm »

Mark,

I bought the TAD-150 from Paul at Bizzy Bee. In fact, I believe I was the first to purchase one from Paul. After talking with Paul for the past few months, I knew that if he had a say as to how the new preamp should be designed, that it would be a keeper. Paul is such a great guy to talk and deal with. All I can say is 'Wow', what a great pre-amp. It really improved my music playback.

I have had a Cayin TA-30 for almost a year now and I really love my Cayin. It is a great integrated. I did not know how my music reproduction was going to be able to be improved upon, but man, was I wrong.

The separation between speakers has greatly improved. My soundstage has become much wider. And the depth of the music that I am now hearing is incredible. The instruments seem to be on different planes coming at you. It really is incredible.

I love having the remote now for stereo playback. The unit is beautiful and looks great on the shelf. I highly recommend this unit.

Jeff Aguilar

Karnaaj · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 09:55 pm »

Hey Mark, you may want to give Ohio Valley Audio a call or email. He has an audcom 120 that he got just to play around with. He liked the unit but said the dist. was a pain to deal with so he is not going to carry it. I bet it would'nt take much to get him to part with it.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 10:14 pm »

Mark,

One thing to be aware with the Audcom is that it does have a very hot output. It is also very sensitive to the tubes used. The flattest response I found was with Sovtek 12AX7LPS.

Because of the high amount of gain from the preamp, you really don't have much control with the volume. The gain switches on the back of the unit lower the sensitivity a bit but they do change the frequency responce.

Jay S · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 Sep 2004, 10:20 pm »

The Audible Illusions L1 is just like the very highly acclaimed Modulus 3 but w/o a phono stage. You may able to get it for close to $500 used. Tube life is said to be shorter than your typical tube pre but the sound should be excellent and resale value should be pretty good.

Also check out the AE-3 preamp... I forget the name of the company (AES?) but it is related to Cary and the preamp is designed by Dennis J Had (founder of Cary). You should get a great buy on a used one.

Neither of these may have a remote but I thought I'd mention these two as they are great value for money. Also, if you read reviews you will probably see comparisons w/ other tube pres, some of which may have remotes.

Jon L · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 Sep 2004, 12:12 am »

Quote from: Jay S

The Audible Illusions L1 is just like the very highly acclaimed Modulus 3 but w/o a phono stage. You may able to get it for close to $500 used. Tube life is said to be shorter than your typical tube pre but the sound should be excellent and resale value should be pretty good.

...

I don't recall seeing too many L1's for $500, though. I used to have L1 eons ago, and it's a very nice tube preamp. Unfortunately, to get that drop-dead gorgeous sound, you have to use some Amperex or Mullard NOS tubes, but they regularly went bad after few months. Considering how much $ NOS tubes cost these days, I don't think L1 is a good option if you are budget-conscious. Also doesn't have remote and only 1 set of outputs. Has a decent headphone out...

Eastern Audio Minimax pre can be bought near that price as well and good sounding.