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Looking 4 good lower cost pre amp $300 to $600

I just bought a new house and am putting my higher end HT setup in the family room. I will actually have a dedicated room that I will use for two channel. Since I have a higher end HT setup I don't need a high buck two channel setup. Perhaps tube or not????

Whats a good pre amp in the 300 to 400 hundred price range?

Thanks
freemand
sfar's avatar
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sfar
1,352 posts
 
The AES AE-3, made by Cary, is a very nice tube preamp and within your budget.
pdspecl
197 posts
 
Hello,
I have a TAD 150 Signature tube preamp. Please check Audiogon discussion and google.com. It's a darn good preamp for the money. The Signature version if the factory modded version. The TAD has 2 sets of outputs, ALPs remote volume control, phono section, headphone jack. Uses (2) 12AX7 or 12AU7 or 12AT7 tubes so tube rolling is not expesnive unless you go with exotic tubes. Tube life is long - 1000's of hours unlike my former Audible Illusions preamp which just chewed tubes. I'd be looking for more than $600 but not all that much more. Again check around. I don't think you'll do better for the money.
Thanks,
Paul
rbischoff
70 posts
 
I would also recommend the AES. Well within your budget with a bit left over to upgrade the chinese tubes.

Richard Bischoff
elevick
2,439 posts
 
Anthem TLP
darkmoebius
899 posts
 
Used AES AE-3 or Eastern Electric Minimax
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