Best Tube Preamp that is Biggest Bang for the Buck

carusoracer · « **Reply #40 on:** 14 Jun 2007, 01:46 pm »

Factory Modded EE Minimax...Tube rolling is a must and is a lot of fun.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #41 on:** 14 Jun 2007, 04:23 pm »

Without a doubt it has to be the Cary SLP98P I have for sale!

40% off the list price and willing to deal!

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1185750638

Sigfreed · « **Reply #42 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 01:16 pm »

The MM is stupendous at just about everything except that it is on the noisy side. It is a traditional tube pre in that respect. If that doesn't bug you - if your speakers are under 92dB/W or so - yeah, it's really killer.

Yes, I owned one.
[/quote]

Well i am using large horn speakers that have a 103db sensitivity and am running Wright WPA 3.5 SET amps and also the Red Wine Audio Signature 30 amps(swapping and listening right now). My system is almost dead quiet running the EE Minimax and i must put my head to the speakers to hear any noise emanating from my system.Any noise that i am hearing is different and is indicative of the different amps.a little bit of hum with the SET and a certain other hiss with the RWA amp.Both are totally not issues for me and certainly not audible from my listening position of 9 feet.The Minimax that i own is not noisy at all in my system.
My previous post in this thread was wondering if anybody had used this preamp and had found something that they preferred at this point.I am always searching i guess but i am very satisfied with the EEM.Very nice preamp.

Sigfreed · « **Reply #43 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 01:17 pm »

Oh and by the way, mine is the factory modded Eastern Electric Minimax and i purchased it new for around $1000 about a year ago.

In The Groove · « **Reply #44 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 05:24 pm »

Audio Research LS-17 is a killer piece.

mtodde · « **Reply #45 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 07:27 pm »

Quote from: In The Groove on 15 Jun 2007, 05:24 pm

Audio Research LS-17 is a killer piece.

Do you actually have one?

jrebman · « **Reply #46 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 08:11 pm »

Quote from: Sigfreed on 15 Jun 2007, 01:17 pm

Oh and by the way, mine is the factory modded Eastern Electric Minimax and i purchased it new for around $1000 about a year ago.

Yes, and I don't understand the comment about it being noisey. It's 93dB SNR unmodded, and who knows how much better after the current level of factory mods (which I have). As carusoracer says, tube rolling is a must.

I have Sig 70s and any hint of noise upstream will show itself rather clearly with this dead silent amp.

-- Jim

mcullinan · « **Reply #47 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 08:49 pm »

I think I am going to go with the modded EE Minimax. Bill is an enthusiastic guy!!! I like him.
Mike

texendo · « **Reply #48 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 09:39 pm »

I just jumped on a used one a few days ago that I'll be having modded there myself... just in case you were looking for moral support.

mcullinan · « **Reply #49 on:** 15 Jun 2007, 11:10 pm »

texendo,
Yeah... let me know what your impressions are. What does the rest of your system look like?
Mike

lazydays · « **Reply #50 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 03:10 am »

I replaced a Quicksilver line stage with an Odyssey Candella, and have never looked back. Tobe exact the next linestage I buy will be another Candella for my upstairs system.
gary

PaulFolbrecht · « **Reply #51 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 01:42 pm »

Quote from: jrebman on 15 Jun 2007, 08:11 pm

Quote from: Sigfreed on 15 Jun 2007, 01:17 pm
Oh and by the way, mine is the factory modded Eastern Electric Minimax and i purchased it new for around $1000 about a year ago.

Yes, and I don't understand the comment about it being noisey. It's 93dB SNR unmodded, and who knows how much better after the current level of factory mods (which I have). As carusoracer says, tube rolling is a must.

I have Sig 70s and any hint of noise upstream will show itself rather clearly with this dead silent amp.

-- Jim

I guess I need to explain my comments about the MM. Compared to both a TVC and my Supratek Sauvignon, there is indeed a bit more noise - 'noisy' was possibly not the best word but since the Supratek, an active linestage that has any noise at all is, to me, "noisy".

And, actually, it's not so much noise (hiss) that prompted that word, but the level of reduced 'blackness' - definitely felt that there was a veil there, with the MM, as compared to either other - I was not seeing as far into the recording.

This is the history. After 1st trying a TVC, I was amazed on how 'un-veiled' and pure it sounded. I was hooked, and thought this was nirvana - and overall it's pretty darn good, especially with high-input-impedance tube amps. But, after hearing many killer systems with the best soundstaging and dynamics I've experienced, I noticed they always had an active preamp - always. More reading and research led me to the Supratek, and I was very pleased to find it was what I was looking for - as totally 'transparent' and quiet as the TVC (or at least very, very close) but with considerably larger, fuller soundstage and more convincing dynamics as well.

I still think the MM is a killer unit. It is really amazing. And 'noisy' was not a good word (I believe I said 'somewhat noisy). However, if you A/B it against a TVC or resistor passive, you'd see what I mean.

Bear in mind we are talking over 3x the price for the Supratek unit.

Captain Humble · « **Reply #52 on:** 16 Jun 2007, 03:36 pm »

As my Cajun friends would say, "One SERIOUS fine preamp!"

guest1632 · « **Reply #53 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 11:07 am »

Quote from: mcullinan on 13 Jun 2007, 01:18 pm

I think my AI Mod3A has seen its day. Any suggestions on next step to audio Nirvana?
Thanks so much.
Mike

Hi Mike,

I read this whole thread, and one preamp that no one has mentioned is Norh's AKA 2B. It uses 6922's and I wonder if it could be upgraded to say a 6n1p tubes.for $400 or so, check out the testimonials.

Ray Bronk

texendo · « **Reply #54 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 01:48 pm »

Quote from: mcullinan on 15 Jun 2007, 11:10 pm

texendo,
Yeah... let me know what your impressions are. What does the rest of your system look like?
Mike

Altmann Attraction Dac and latest Nixon USB Tube Dac fed by Apple Lossless (still waiting to do a proper A/B; in my opinion so far, the Altmann in no way "slays" the Nixon as many reviews would potentially lead one to believe)

Rega P3 w/Elys2 and very hotrodded Bottlehead Seduction phono

Anti-cables

Sig 70s (with Vcap OIMPs and Mapleshade speaker wires soldered directly to the pcb) driving two pairs of Visaton B200s in homemade open baffles.

The unmodded phono is due to arrive on Tues. I'm in the middle of a move across the country, so I plan on having it modded while in transit to Austin, TX (whoo-hoo!!).

rcarlton · « **Reply #55 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 03:38 pm »

Juicy Music preamp's http://www.juicymusicaudio.com/webpages/preamplifiers.html have gotten great reviews. Terrific bang for the buck.

nature boy · « **Reply #56 on:** 17 Jun 2007, 04:24 pm »

I replaced my Audible Illusions M3A with a Eastern Electric MiniMax with NOS tubes and have never looked back. The EE sounds better and is MUCH more reliable.

NB

PaulFolbrecht · « **Reply #57 on:** 18 Jun 2007, 12:17 am »

Quote from: tvad4 on 17 Jun 2007, 04:43 pm

What are there...30 or so preamps recommended in this thread thus far?

Good luck to the OP!

The thing about threads like these is that much of the time they could as well be named "So, what preamp (or component X) do you own?"

Then again, what do people know best? And, presumably, we've all bought components we like to believe are among the best bang/buck in whatever price bracket we're playing in.

Of course, _I_ never respond in that fashion.

In The Groove · « **Reply #58 on:** 18 Jun 2007, 12:38 am »

I think the best thing to do is find a dealer that will allow you to do an in-home audition.

Everyone believes they have the best but not all will match your system and room as well.

tanchiro58 · « **Reply #59 on:** 18 Jun 2007, 01:28 am »

Quote

I think the best thing to do is find a dealer that will allow you to do an in-home audition.

Everyone believes they have the best but not all will match your system and room as well.

I agree with In the Groove. Nothing is best bang for the buck outhere. Things is people could not afford the very best bang because their buck is too little. They just can buy whatever fit their taste and most important their own pocket. Psychologically they think is "biggest Bang for the Buck"

Best Tube Preamp that is Biggest Bang for the Buck

guest1632