[earwig]

Has anyone heard or seen this Valab tube preamp?Its chassis actually resembles an Audio Research(You could buy the chassis by itself and make your own preamp too).I must be dreaming that it could actually sound like one though.I did love my old Arc SP6a chassis,hmm.What do you think,is it good?

[Bill Baker]

There is talk about this on the net already.


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://usr.audioasylum.com/images/3/32810/Valabs_PR1_TR.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl%3Ff%3Damp%26m%3D132817&usg=__q5HA_9FNcd3ASclO0MBlvnsx9nw=&h=450&w=600&sz=42&hl=en&start=4&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=EM24UXbH5UQ6HM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3DValab%2Btube%2Bpreamp%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1%26ie%3DUTF-8

[Jon L]

There is talk about this on the net already.

Wow, I guess I missed that thread somehow.
Sure, it's totally using old Audio Research faceplates (Did AR have them made in China?).

What's interesting is nobody in that thread has listened to it or have commented on sound quality. Inside, I count 4 transformers, stepped attenuators, 15 Tubes (!), and lots and lots of parts.  For $1700, I wouldn't mind giving it a listen.

[srb]

If the simpler path is often the better path, does one want or need 15 tubes in a preamplifier? (!)
 
Steve

[Bill Baker]

I will say it "looks" impressive. My only concern would be the quality of the internal parts. Not in a sence of how good or expensive they are but moreso if they are using 'fake' versions of name brand capacitors that are underated in terms of voltage. This seems to be an increasing problem.

I would also be curious about the circuit design itself?

If the simpler path is often the better path, does one want or need 15 tubes in a preamplifier? (!)

I was just getting ready to write the same thing.

[Jon L]

If the simpler path is often the better path, does one want or need 15 tubes in a preamplifier? (!)
 
Steve

Actually, that's my belief as well, especially for non-cost-no-object gear.  My own preamp has minimal parts,  Transcendent Grounded Grid with mods, but its price reflects that. 

There are $$$ preamps with a gazillion parts and tubes that sound wonderful, too, so who knows.  One example that comes to mind is Aesthetix Callisto line..

[Bill Baker]

There are a lot of preamps out there with very complex circuitry and high tube count. Most of the ones I have heard sound colored in some way (not that I've heard them all) and obvioulsy add the potential to be noisey.  Besides, tracking down a noisy tube can be a venture in it's own. The ASL Twin Head comes to mind with it's ten tubes.

[JakeK]

I believe this is a copy of the Transcendent Grounded Grid Preamp.
The preamp section is the 3 tube at the right side. The other 14 tubes are for the power section.

[Jon L]

I believe this is a copy of the Transcendent Grounded Grid Preamp.
The preamp section is the 3 tube at the right side. The other 14 tubes are for the power section.

Hmm, interesting.  The 3 tube signal section does look very similar to my GG.  I really like the Grounded Grid and have wondered what it might sound like with heavy-duty PS, but so many tubes..

[earwig]

Dont get me wrong though I still prefere a real beautiful Audio Research(with the nice thick military grade circuit foils and quality construction).Perhaps the nice big Valab chassis on sale too would fit in some surplus parts I  have for a tube preamp kit project.Looks cool.Luv to see someone report on the Valabs sound  though,interesting dual mono construction.

[Johnny2Bad]

Wow, I guess I missed that thread somehow.
Sure, it's totally using old Audio Research faceplates (Did AR have them made in China?).

Nope, the Audio Research faceplates were made in Minnesota. I personally watched a friend, who owned a silkscreen company in Minneapolis, pad-print AR faceplates for the factory one day. They had the contract for a very long time. Of course, it's not hard to clone stuff like that ... the Chinese have pad printers too.

[Johnny2Bad]

Also, I didn't notice it until I jumped to the other site's thread, but the rack handles are not exactly the same as Audio Research handles. They lack a bit of the roundness on the corners ... clearly an off-the-shelf part chosen because it's very similar. But, you can tell it's not AR stuff.