[213Cobra]

I suppose answering your question about 101D tubes at a reasonable price depends upon your view of "reasonable." They tend to last quite awhile in the Melody 1688. diyhifisupply.com has TJ 101Ds listed for $224 each. If you watch eBay, you will find both older western versions and contemporary Chinese 101Ds at various prices. Also, the established online tube merchants like Tube Depot and others carry 101Ds from time to time.

Phil

[woofersus]

Sorry to necropost, but I just thought I'd post a PSA for the P1688 Sig fans (or Melody in general) who posted about it in this thread that it is available in the US again though Angel City Audio and its dealer network.

Oh, and it comes with a remote now.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

You should strongly consider Van Alstine preamps.  They will give you everything your looking for in a preamp.  Check out the AVA section on this forum.  They are a lot of bang for the buck and mad here in the good old USA in Minnesota!  They also have a 30 day money back guarentee.  Give Frank Van Alstine a call and tell him what your looking for.

[S Clark]

I have a Dodd battery preamp that I have been very happy with.  Check it out before you buy.  The new buffer is still at its initial price of $999.  Most agree that it offers top level performance.




Mine is in mesquite.  Here is the review from 10Audio.  Sonically, the new model is a copy of the old, just doesn't have the gain.  At this price point, there is less reason to shop China. 
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.10audio.com/images/Dodd_front.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.10audio.com/dodd_battery_pre.htm&usg=__FBAYj7-7prBRr5H-jpPBve5MC0U=&h=145&w=313&sz=32&hl=en&start=6&itbs=1&tbnid=iHr3D7B9NWH7aM:&tbnh=54&tbnw=117&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddodd%2Bbattery%2Bpreamp%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1

[bacobits1]

I would also look at the EE Mini Max Pre.
I had one and loved it.
Give Bill O'Connell a call for tube rolling.

D

[iGrant]

Opera Cyber 222 uses 4 6SN7 and a 5A4R rectifier, really nice at under $2k, would also second the Melody, I've heard it a few times at friend's places and it impresses big time. The finest tube pre out of China would have to include the ShengYa CS-6, which uses 4 6922's per channel, under $5K. A new more expensive tube pre is in the works from Jungson, saw and heard the prototype last year, probably be $10K+.

Cheers,
Ian