What preamp have you replaced your iFi iTube with?

ebag4 · « **on:** 31 Oct 2015, 04:04 pm »

A year or two ago I purchased an iFi iTube preamp to put in front of my Bottlehead Stereomour 2A3 amp (built as a power amp) to give me some additional gain. I have been pretty happy with the iFi, but I have been wondering if there is any further improvement to be had with a preamp upgrade? I don't need much gain, with a lot of music I don't need any, however the putting the pre in the lineup did more than just add gain, it seemed to increase the dynamic capability in the system, so all in all a nice improvement. I don't really need the additional volume control as my DAC has that covered.

So I am looking for recommendations, diy is ok, I was considering the Bottlehead 300b "Bee Pre".

This is what my system looks like currently:
Auralic Aries-TotalDac USB-Auralic Vega DAC-ifi Tube Buffer/Pre-Bottlehead 2A3 Amp and Servo Sub Amp(x2)-2A3 Feeds GR Research Wedgies, Servo Sub Amps drive 12"x2 in "H" Frame per channel AC Devices: Powered through Pi Audio Majik Buss

Best,
Ed

ebag4 · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Nov 2015, 05:51 pm »

No opinions as to what pre's might offer an improvement sound wise over the iFi iTube? I realize it punches above it's weight but I assume there are units that offer more detail, fluidity, etc. Just looking for opinions based on what you have heard, no need to justify your opinion.

Thanks,
Ed

jk@home · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Nov 2015, 11:52 pm »

I used to be a big passive pre fan. Now using a SS preamp (Nuforce), with the Ifi iTube between the DAC and pre (with no extra gain from the iTube). Prefer that for the same reasons you list. Love the iTube, use the extra processing circuit all the time. I would find a transparent pre and leave the Itube where it is.

Have you added the iPower to the iTube yet?

ebag4 · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 01:12 am »

I'm not aware of iPower. Thanks for the response, I will look into it.

Best,
Ed

motberg · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 01:33 am »

Hi,
I have been looking for the same thing.
I have an iTube, really love the sound but in my rig not really refined enough to sit between my DAC and SS Pre.
I tried the iPower, but that still did not take the iTube to the transparency level I am expecting. Maybe a good LPS would help.
So far, I have only found some expensive options and have not listened to anything yet.
I may end up eventually just checking into some higher end tube preamp, such as the deHavilland.
http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/UltraVerve-Preamplifier.htm

Some other ideas:
http://www.audio-space.com/product-category/preamplifier/
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1015/Linear_Tube_Audio_microZOTL_2_Headphone_Amplifier_Review.htm
http://www.eeaudio.com/eeaudio_009.htm

Good Luck, I think the iTube is a remarkable value and maybe it will take some serious investment to improve on that piece.

ebag4 · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 01:53 am »

Thanks for the response Motberg. I appreciate you listing some of the items you are considering, I had forgotten about the Minimax unit, that is under consideration, unfortunately it looks like it may not be available any longer, used if fine if I can find one.

I have also been wondering about the Burson Soloist, I didn't know if it would be an improvent over the iFi but I like the adjustable gain, not tube but I am running a tube amp so additional tubes may not be necessary.

Best,
Ed

mlundy57 · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 02:16 am »

Ed,

Can you use a different tube in the iTube?

In my system I have a Dodd Audio passive tube buffer (Battery powered) between my Pulse X-Infinity DAC and PrimaLuna ProLogue 4 power amp driving my Wedgies. The stock tube with the Dodd was a JJ ECC 83 S (the box says ECC 803 S but the tube says 83 S). It also came with a Reflektor 6H30-DP Super Tube.

The Dodd sounds much better with the 6H30-DP. I noticed a similar result with the ProLogue 4. It came with the stock PrimaLuna branded tubes. Upon the advice of the person I bought the PrimaLuna from, I replaced all the tubes with ones he recommended. The resulting improvement was amazing. It doesn't even sound like the same amp.

So maybe a tube upgrade is all the iTube needs.

If that isn't possible or doesn't do what you want and your DAC's output voltage is at least twice your power amp's input sensitivity I'd suggest keeping an eye out for a Dodd passive tube buffer and use a 6H30-DP tube.

If you need the gain I would think a Bottlehead active pre would mate well with your power amp. There is one listed in the trading post at the bottom of the first page (at least that's where it's at right now). I'm typing this from my tablet and I don't know how to copy and paste the link with this thing, sorry.

Mike

ebag4 · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 02:29 am »

Thanks Mike. I actually built one of the early Dodd buffers, Trung set me up with Gary. Like an idiot I sold it during a bout of upgrade-itis.

I don't know if the iTube's tube can be changed, I will look into it. Truth be told, I can't really point to anything the iTube or the system is doing wrong. I feel that at the point my system is at now, it is really sins of omission that I believe I might be able to improve on. That is why I am asking for opinions.

Best,
Ed

mlundy57 · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 03:49 am »

Quote from: ebag4 on 22 Nov 2015, 02:29 am

Thanks Mike. I actually built one of the early Dodd buffers, Trung set me up with Gary. Like an idiot I sold it during a bought of upgrade-itis.

I don't know if the iTube's tube can be changed, I will look into it. Truth be told, I can't really point to anything the iTube or the system is doing wrong. I feel that at the point my system is at now, it is really sins of omission that I believe I might be able to improve on. That is why I am asking for opinions.

Best,
Ed

Ed,

Can you articulate what it is you are looking for in your system's sound that is not there?

At one point I was looking for more clarity, resolution and detail out of my system. I felt my DAC might be the weak link. The Pulse X-Infinity promised what I was looking for and it delivered. At that time I was using the DODD tube buffer with a class A SS poweramp from NAD. The new DAC came through with all the improvements I was looking for.

Then I thought I would improve on the smoothness by using my Jolida tube amp. Instantly all that new found detail and resolution was gone. I thought it might be because the Jolida was an integrated amp (tube buffer into pre-amp??) so I bought the PrimaLuna power amp. When I first plugged it in, No Joy. It was quieter than the Jolida but the detail and resolution was still missing.

I discussed this with the person I bought the amp from and after trying a few different things with no luck he recommended a tube combination he had found made this amp perform at it's best. I decided to give these tubes a try. No small decision though since the new tubes cost as much as the amp and stock tubes did ($650 for the amp w/stock tubes and $650 for the new tubes, all NOS) and I had to get them from three different sources.

The result was what I was looking for, the pleasantness of tubes with the detail, resolution and clarity of my class A SS amp.

So maybe what you are looking for might be found in a tube change for the Stereomour instead if the iTube (or maybe both). My point is that there are probably enough Stereomour users out there that have experimented with tubes that somebody has come across a combination that would give you what you are looking for. It would be worth asking anyway.

Of course this is all assuming that what you are looking for is something that can be affected by the tubes.

This is beginning to sound circular, time for a

Good luck,

Mike

jk@home · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 04:02 am »

Quote from: ebag4 on 22 Nov 2015, 02:29 am

I don't know if the iTube's tube can be changed, I will look into it. Truth be told, I can't really point to anything the iTube or the system is doing wrong. I feel that at the point my system is at now, it is really sins of omission that I believe I might be able to improve on. That is why I am asking for opinions.

What interconnects are you using?

ebag4 · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 04:14 am »

Morrow MA5s

ebag4 · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 04:34 am »

I missed your reply Mike.

The system is sounding pretty great now, I can't really articulate what I am looking for because I don't know what I might be missing. Sounds like foolish audiophile rhetoric when I read that back, although that's really what I am wondering, am I missing anything that can be improved on? With my system the most likely candidate is the iTube, or at least I believe that to be true.

Btw, the tube in the iTube is soldered in from what I have read, so not easily changed.

Best,
Ed

RDavidson · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 04:44 am »

Quote from: mlundy57 on 22 Nov 2015, 03:49 am

At that time I was using the DODD tube buffer with a class A SS poweramp from NAD.

Sorry. Off topic question : NAD class A amp? What model is this? I'm curious.

mlundy57 · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 05:42 am »

Quote from: RDavidson on 22 Nov 2015, 04:44 am

Sorry. Off topic question : NAD class A amp? What model is this? I'm curious.

C 372 (2003 model)

Currently, the C 275BEE and the C 375BEE are class A

Poultrygeist · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 11:08 am »

I purchased a good used Foreplay III loaded with boutique caps for not much money.

With the 2a3 Paramours I don't think I could have found a better partnership.

SearchOfSub · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 11:19 am »

Quote from: ebag4 on 31 Oct 2015, 04:04 pm

A year or two ago I purchased an iFi iTube preamp to put in front of my Bottlehead Stereomour 2A3 amp (built as a power amp) to give me some additional gain. I have been pretty happy with the iFi, but I have been wondering if there is any further improvement to be had with a preamp upgrade? I don't need much gain, with a lot of music I don't need any, however the putting the pre in the lineup did more than just add gain, it seemed to increase the dynamic capability in the system, so all in all a nice improvement. I don't really need the additional volume control as my DAC has that covered.

So I am looking for recommendations, diy is ok, I was considering the Bottlehead 300b "Bee Pre".

This is what my system looks like currently:
Auralic Aries-TotalDac USB-Auralic Vega DAC-ifi Tube Buffer/Pre-Bottlehead 2A3 Amp and Servo Sub Amp(x2)-2A3 Feeds GR Research Wedgies, Servo Sub Amps drive 12"x2 in "H" Frame per channel AC Devices: Powered through Pi Audio Majik Buss

Best,
Ed

Anything is better than iTube.

opnly bafld · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 02:15 pm »

Quote from: RDavidson on 22 Nov 2015, 04:44 am

Sorry. Off topic question : NAD class A amp? What model is this? I'm curious.

Class A/B (more B than A)

mlundy57 · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 03:12 pm »

Quote from: opnly bafld on 22 Nov 2015, 02:15 pm

Class A/B (more B than A)

The information for those models in their product data sheets, owner's manuals and on the NAD website doesn't say anything about class A/B, only about being class A.

I'll ask NAD tech support

RDavidson · « **Reply #18 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 03:31 pm »

OK. Yeah. I had a C372 a long time ago.
It has some class A circuitry (a class A gain stage...likely at the inputs) if I recall correctly. The amplifier itself (the output stage) is not class A. Same for the 275.
Virtually all amplifiers have at least 2 stages. Input and output. For an ampifier to be classified as (purely) class A, it has to be class A from input to output. With that said, the NAD amps may output their first few watts in class A.

Anyway. Thanks for sharing. If NAD made a class A amp, I'd maybe have to get my hands on one, which is why I asked.

ebag4 · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 Nov 2015, 03:42 pm »

Quote from: Poultrygeist on 22 Nov 2015, 11:08 am

I purchased a good used Foreplay III loaded with boutique caps for not much money.

With the 2a3 Paramours I don't think I could have found a better partnership.

Thanks PG, I hadn't really considered a Foreplay, I built a FPII about a hundred years ago. The BeePre has my attention but maybe I should consider the Smash as well.

Best,
Ed