Tube Preamp Recommendations

jtwrace · « **on:** 4 Dec 2006, 12:37 am »

I have pass labs X-1 and pass X-250 with martin logan summits. I am wondering if I were to put a tube pre amp in the loop which one should I try? thoughts?

Marbles · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Dec 2006, 12:42 am »

Odyssey Candela is getting raves +- $1300

Modwright has been out for a while and is about twice the price of the Candela

The new Dodd battery is stellar, but $3300

Mapletree is getting some good press too, and they are relatively cheap.

JoshK · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Dec 2006, 12:59 am »

Quote from: jtwrace on 4 Dec 2006, 12:37 am

I have pass labs X-1 and pass X-250 with martin logan summits. I am wondering if I were to put a tube pre amp in the loop which one should I try? thoughts?

First, don't sell your X1, try a tube preamp, then decide. I'd try a mapletree 4SE as a low risk introduction....its damn good.

bikes and beats · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Dec 2006, 01:04 am »

I have a Philly Audio 7B version 2 for sale. I really liked it and it was transparent enough to let me hear differences between Odyssey and NuForce amplifiers. Plus, the money you'll save can go twoards a fresh set of NOS WE396A's, which the Philly seems to like very much imho.
-Mike

R_burke · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Dec 2006, 02:21 am »

I have a Philly 7B and like it a lot, but I also have a Shanling CDP so I can swap/roll tubes between the two

woodsyi · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Dec 2006, 03:39 am »

Quote from: jtwrace on 4 Dec 2006, 12:37 am

I have pass labs X-1 and pass X-250 with martin logan summits. I am wondering if I were to put a tube pre amp in the loop which one should I try? thoughts?

What at you hoping to gain and what are are prepared to lose by going with a tube preamp? What type of music do you mostly listen to?

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Dec 2006, 03:46 am »

And.....whats your budget ? New or used matter ?

Paul_Bui · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Dec 2006, 05:23 am »

Quote from: jtwrace on 4 Dec 2006, 12:37 am

I have pass labs X-1 and pass X-250 with martin logan summits. I am wondering if I were to put a tube pre amp in the loop which one should I try? thoughts?

What's your budget? What are you trying to achieve with a tube pre? In other word, what's missing? My guess is, you'd like to get rid of the sterility sometimes the Pass Labs gear seems to contribute to the overall sound. And you'd be looking for a tube pre to get to fuller, sweeter, more musical performance while still keeping the speed, slam, and quietness of the X-1/X-250.

Not all tube pre can deliver the above. I'd try several of them with a 30 day money back (os so) policy, then a sound decision can be made. Synergy is key, and only you and your ears can tell.

Those suggested by AC members so far are all good or exellent in different price (and perhaps performance) points. I'd just like to add another choice which I am using: SinglePower MPX3 SE. If your budget allows, I'd even go for SinglePower Supra or Maestro. Again, whichever path will you take, make sure your selection best fits the rest of your system.

Levi · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Dec 2006, 05:32 am »

It is hard to find the best preamp for your system. Definitely it is advisable to bring them home so you can audition it in your system. I would suggest you try BAT tube preamp. www.balanced.com
If you live in NYC area, I can bring them to you so you can try it out in your system. I have a BAT VK-30 and you can go all the way up to VK-50SE.

Enjoy the search.

Imperial · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 02:09 am »

Quote from: jtwrace on 4 Dec 2006, 12:37 am

I have pass labs X-1 and pass X-250 with martin logan summits. I am wondering if I were to put a tube pre amp in the loop which one should I try? thoughts?

Am I to understand this with that you wish to use the tubepre as a buffer, henceforth sweetening the sound?

What if I were to suggest a transformer instead?
Say the one made by Shindo labs. Shindo Arome CD matching transformer.

Another option could be seen as to use a Kubala Sosna interconnect.

Imperial.

WEEZ · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 02:47 am »

jtwrace,

Do you use the balanced or unbalanced connections with your Pass gear? Many tubed pre-amps are single ended (unbalanced).....and the X-250 has a pretty low input z with the unbalanced inputs.

I echo some of the other posts...what are you trying to achieve?

WEEZ

Imperial · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 03:04 am »

If one is trying to insert a tubebuffer, I could imagine a custom job to be the most ideal here.
One that is made to fit between the X1 and the X250.
I that case, the options a seemingly endless.
In the other scenario it could be a rather bad endresult if one just put an arbitrary tubepre in there...
The quality of the tubepre could be stellar, but the combo may very well fail to have this as a sum.

oris98 · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 05:54 am »

BAT VK30SE or VK31SE. Close your eyes and you will see music surrounding you in layers. Some are 10 feet away in the front and some are at your back, left and right.. 3D holographic is the word to descript it.

dcktr · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 06:01 am »

My .02. Try a tube buffer and keep both the x1, x250
Take a look at http://www.space-tech-lab.com/BufferPage.html
I have been very happy with my STL gear. His pre amps and tube buffers stand out.
Great personalized service. Tell him what you want and he will design it the way you want it.
PM if you have some questions

Levi · « **Reply #14 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 03:19 pm »

+1

Quote from: oris98 on 5 Dec 2006, 05:54 am

BAT VK30SE or VK31SE. Close your eyes and you will see music surrounding you in layers. Some are 10 feet away in the front and some are at your back, left and right.. 3D holographic is the word to descript it.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #15 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 03:28 pm »

I've heard those speakers in a treated room with big Mac SS stuff. IMO, they are extremely fast but light in instrumental tone. I'd be looking for something with a pfat sound, of the 6sn7 type. I don't mean that tube necessarily, but I wouldn't get something described as SS-like, crystalline, transparent - the speakers and amp have those qualities already in spades.

JoshK · « **Reply #16 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 04:09 pm »

For someone who is shopping for a tube preamp, I recommend checking out this one:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1170484189

I saw it this morning. If it were a commercially built preamp it would be darned expensive. JE Labs is well known and highly regarded in the tube builder's world as some of the best circuits around. The 76 tube is a great tube and not uber expensive. It is used a lot in pro microphone preamps in the multi kilobuck range. It looks like this guy built a very nice implemenation of it.

I have no affiliation with the seller, just thought it was a neat deal.

jtwrace · « **Reply #17 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 09:20 pm »

Yes, I am looking for the warmer, sweeter top end. The X-1 is not bad by any means, just always been interested in doing this. I have seen the BAT 3ixse, Mc and ARC just no sure about these. The BAT probably is the best one out of that bunch IMHO. Oh, I do run the full system balanced.

What about Rogue audio? They are coming out with a new top of the line tube pre above the 99. It will have a $7500 list but will be able to compete with the $10k BAT. Thoughts?

WEEZ · « **Reply #18 on:** 5 Dec 2006, 10:15 pm »

jtwrace,

Do you run balanced just because you can?- or do you think it sounds better than single ended? For home audio, I've never understood the 'advantage' of balanced....

WEEZ

jtwrace · « **Reply #19 on:** 6 Dec 2006, 12:59 am »

I can run either way.....early on I ran this system with single ended. Then sent my Cardas cables to cardas and had them converted. OMG! What a difference. Any place that can be is balanced. It really does work for the better with my config.

Why do you ask?