[Presb4]

Ok, I'm looking for some help and as the GR community is the best, I know of no better place to post this.

In my main system I have the following:
Nvidia Shield Streamer, CEC CD Transport, Schiit Yaggy+ LIB, Schiit Freya+ with NOS 6SN7 Sylvania's, Schiit Tyr Mono Blocks, ST-70 Push Pull EL34 Amp and Custom Built SE KT88 UL Amp and GR Brute Speakers.

I have the itch to upgrade my Freya Preamp. As I will keep the Freya, I was thinking SS Class A Preamp this time.
My budge is around 2k USD.

I have considered:
Audio by Van Alstine - https://avahifi.com/collections/preamplifiers/products/fet-valve-cfr-preamplifier



Holo Serene - https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-serene-preamp/



And the one I'm most interested in - Acoustic Invader - https://acousticinvader.com/lang/eng/index.html



I would like to hear if you all have had any experience with any of these brands/preamps, what you liked, what you didn't. And if you have any other recommendations for me to check out.

Thanks

[mkrawcz]

Build a Zenmod Iron Pre. Here is the one I just finished and I will have a hard time using anything else for a long time. It’s really good.

[Presb4]

As I live here in the States, I'm really hoping members over in the EU who might have more experience with the Acoustic Invader brand will chime in as its harder to get there products over here in the States and cant find a lot of reviews to take a look at. But it looks like a great product for the price point. There website is not really up to date as the company is just one guy with some helpers and he explained that when folks inquire through email he just sends out his updated catalog. The the Acoustic Invader basic Preamp is 1500 Euro plus shipping to USA. He will customize as the buyer likes, different colors, caps, inputs, outputs, resistors, ect. for an up charge.

[Presb4]

Build a Zenmod Iron Pre. Here is the one I just finished and I will have a hard time using anything else for a long time. It’s really good.

Looks real nice.

Was it all piece parts and solder, or where the boards pre built and you assembled?

Looking at the website now, i see its all solder, doesn't look that complex. How were the instructions? Also looks like you used different transformers than what comes wit the kit. What did you end up using?

[jmimac351]

I have an Ayre K-5xeMP and it's outstanding. Completely black background... total darkness. My other preamp is top end Ayre unit and it's just a very different thing for a very different price.

If you have interest, I'll sell it to you.  I have several pieces of gear I've tried and need to list and just haven't gotten to it.

Here is a Stereophile review on it, which was very complimentary.  They mention it being rated "Full Class A"... if that makes a difference to you. It's true that it is really good.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/ayre-k-5xesupmpsup-line-preamplifier

[Presb4]

jmimac351 - what would you say the sound signature is like?
I like a bit of a more warm romantic sound, less edge, more chill musicality.

[mkrawcz]

Looks real nice.

Was it all piece parts and solder, or where the boards pre built and you assembled?

You do need some experience for it. It’s all soldering. Diyaudiostore sells kit bundles that come with all the board components, you would then need to get a chassis. Modushop Italy sells a chassis for it. Then wiring., transformers, and volume pots will need to be figured out. So it is a bit of an advanced project.

[Presb4]

I built this from scratch last year, I ain't scared to swing an iron. 

[jmimac351]

jmimac351 - what would you say the sound signature is like?
I like a bit of a more warm romantic sound, less edge, more chill musicality.

The K-5xeMP is more "laid back" than my KX-R Twenty, but because it has less detail.  Neither is forward.  I would not say the K5-xeMP is "warm", but I also would say it's very musical.

I have a full, "high end", tube setup as well.  Hand wired full tube preamp and OTL tube amp.  I like tubes and the stuff they do, but the detail / musicality I get from the Ayre stuff is my preference. 

For something "warm" in solid state, perhaps checkout Wells Audio. If you want "warm / musical", I would be looking for something with very little, if any, negative feedback.

I would be digging into the circuit design and have a conversion with them, without telling them exactly the sound you are looking for... see if they tell you - unprompted.

[Presb4]

Good thinking, I will look into that. Thanks

[djpk]

Why not consider the Schiit Audio Kara preamp? I have the Kara with my Schiit Audio Aergir amp and I think it is an excellent combination. I am confident the Kara would be a great match for your Tyr amps.

[Early B.]

Since you're adept with a soldering iron, there's no way you should consider any commercial preamps when you can build your own. 

[marvda1]

There's a Dehaviland ultraverve 3 preamp for sale on the Pok audio forum site.
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/200865/dehavilland-ultraverve-tube-pre-with-remote#latest

[WGH]

I have the itch to upgrade my Freya Preamp...

I have considered:
Audio by Van Alstine - Fet Valve CFR Hybrid preamp

I would like to hear if you all have had any experience with any of these brands/preamps, what you liked, what you didn't.

I have use the AVA Fet Valve CFR preamp for 5 years, what is amazing is that I have no itch to upgrade. The preamp does everything I want a preamp to do: it is completely silent, images great, tonally neutral, built to last decades and doesn't run hot. The AVA preamp doesn't sound like a traditional tubed preamp even though it has 4 tubes: 2 - 12AT7/ECC81 and 2 - 12AU7/ECC82. The tubes are hidden, anyone hearing the preamp for the first time will think it is a well designed solid state preamp. Our local audio group has been meeting regularly since 2013 at members homes, we get to hear (and borrow) all types of electronics, speakers and cables. I still haven't heard any preamp that has temped me to switch (yet).

Rolling tubes in the AVA Fet Valve CFR preamp changes the sound slightly but not as much as in other tube designs. My Hagerman Cornet2 phono preamp's sound can change dramatically with different tubes, the AVA preamp's change is a lot more subtle.

I did find a tube combo I like better than the stock JJ tubes, the NOS tubes removed the slight hint of sharpness and rounded out/balanced the sound better. I wrote a review:

Tweaking the Van Alstine Fet Valve CFR Hybrid Preamp and Vision SET 400 Amp
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=180635.msg1898392#msg1898392

[BrandonB]

What is the difference in a line stage and an active preamp and when would you use one over the other? 

[js1955]

What is the difference in a line stage and an active preamp and when would you use one over the other?

Semantics.  Same thing.   Or maybe not?     

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/what-does-line-stage-mean.176344/

Others will correct me if I'm wrong, but IMO:

*    a passive section is a line stage;  an active section is a line stage
*    so "line stage" is a general category;  it includes both active and passive circuits
*    a line stage does not include the phono section.  If the preamp also includes a built-in phono section, it is technically
      called "a full function active preamp".  The active line stage and phono stage are 2 separate circuits, within one box.

It is common to use shortcuts in the lingo, so sometimes clarity suffers.

[Jaytor]

Generally, Line Stage refers to a preamp or portion of a preamp that contains active circuitry to buffer or amplify a line-level signal. For consumer audio, this generally means a signal that has a maximum amplitude of approximately 2 volts pk-to-pk.

The term preamplifier is generally used to describe a device that can handle phono-level signals and includes RIAA equalization.

Obviously, these terms have become blurred and there are many audio manufacturers that use the term preamplifier or preamp to describe devices that do not include a phono section. And there are some manufacturers that describe their devices as passive preamplifiers (which doesn't really make sense to me).

It's a bit of a stretch to call a device that does input switching and passive attenuation a Line Stage, but I suppose since it is handling line-level signals, this makes more sense than calling it a passive preamp.

[Presb4]

Why not consider the Schiit Audio Kara preamp? I have the Kara with my Schiit Audio Aergir amp and I think it is an excellent combination. I am confident the Kara would be a great match for your Tyr amps.

The day the Kara was available for first order, I ordered one. I A-B'd it to my Freya+ in buffer mode and liked it a lot but.... The Kara was more dynamic, faster, and cleaner than the Freya+ and in my system I feared that it might be a bit fatiguing so I returned it within the return window. If I had an Aegir I can see how it would be a very good match. But connected to my Tyr's it had a bit more edge than I like i guess.

[Presb4]

Since you're adept with a soldering iron, there's no way you should consider any commercial preamps when you can build your own.

You are most likely right on that point, but I already have a different tube mono block project on my work bench I need to finish up before adding a different build. So I was looking for a commercial preamp option. With as busy as my day job keeps me, I guess I have greater funds then time to spare.

[Presb4]

I have use the AVA Fet Valve CFR preamp for 5 years, what is amazing is that I have no itch to upgrade. The preamp does everything I want a preamp to do: it is completely silent, images great, tonally neutral, built to last decades and doesn't run hot. The AVA preamp doesn't sound like a traditional tubed preamp even though it has 4 tubes: 2 - 12AT7/ECC81 and 2 - 12AU7/ECC82. The tubes are hidden, anyone hearing the preamp for the first time will think it is a well designed solid state preamp. Our local audio group has been meeting regularly since 2013 at members homes, we get to hear (and borrow) all types of electronics, speakers and cables. I still haven't heard any preamp that has temped me to switch (yet).

Rolling tubes in the AVA Fet Valve CFR preamp changes the sound slightly but not as much as in other tube designs. My Hagerman Cornet2 phono preamp's sound can change dramatically with different tubes, the AVA preamp's change is a lot more subtle.

I did find a tube combo I like better than the stock JJ tubes, the NOS tubes removed the slight hint of sharpness and rounded out/balanced the sound better. I wrote a review:

Tweaking the Van Alstine Fet Valve CFR Hybrid Preamp and Vision SET 400 Amp
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=180635.msg1898392#msg1898392

So I live right down the street from AVA and I have a few friends who have AVA products in their racks. If I didn't already have the Freya, I might be looking harder at that option. I know they are awesome, but AVA's don't have balanced connections and that's something I am looking for in my next Pre.

Great write up, BTW. I enjoyed reading it.