Tube preamp for a Bel Canto eVo2 Gen II


Right,
Don’t flame me for the mix & match system, I’m learning and growing as fast as I can. :-) I’m looking for a preamp (probably tube?) to go with a Bel Canto eVo2 Gen II. I’m thinking a “sweeter” tube preamp to balance out the potentially “dry” Bel Canto. Rest of the system is as follows. Musical Fidelity A3.2CD player, Spendor S9's.
Budget dictates $1000 - 1500 used for the preamp. Audio Mirror has some aesthetically pleasing preamps for very decent prices but I haven’t heard any in person. Other suggestions? Am I worrying too much about the eVo’s being “dry”?

Holding my breath until you reply,
Noexit Esq.
noexit
I use a tubed Herron VSTP-1A/166 with an eVo4 II and I'm quite happy. Ed Morawski in his Positive Feedback review of the eVo2 ( http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue14/evo2.html ) used a tubed EAR 864.
The Bel Canto Evo 2, Gen II is neutral and accurate. It's also fast and detailed. I would not call it a dry amp.

I believe that Bel Canto used to recommend a minumim of a 10:1 ratio between the input impedance of the power amp and the output impedance of the preamp. You might want to check with them to be sure my numbers are correct and to avoid possible impedance mismatch problems.

I use a solid state preamp in my system, so I'll leave the tube recommendations to those with experience in that area.

Rick
Yikes Newbie & Jafox, much ado about nothing IMHO. I’m new to “high-fi” and if you preview my one and only other post you’ll see the roots to my question. I’m 99% sure I’m buying a Bel Canto amp and I’ll be using my Creek 5350R as a “preamp” for the time being and didn’t want to have the system sound like mush in the interim.
Perhaps you should wait until that morning coffee before you post. :-)

Proud to have rode the short bus AND learned that arguing in a message board is like winning a gold medal in the special olympics .......

Noexit Esq.
If you haven't already bought BelCanto eVo 2, you should seriously consider the eVo 4 model, IMO. It's just a little bit more expensive, but much superior in bass/dynamics department, rivalling the biggest SS amps here.

Just my 0.02c worth.
TAD-150 Signature - from Paul at
http://www.2baudio.com

Great tube Pre-Amp that will compete with amp several times its price.