2. amps-preamps
  3. 1244953799

Pre of three?

Hello again, I think when most people ask these sorts of questions, a lot of the time, they have already decided and they are just looking for reinforcement. Which is fine, I've done it, but this time I really have no idea, I could go with any of them and I am thinking about flipping a coin? I would love to hear from anyone who has spent time with any of these preamps. Is there one which is a clear choice above the others.

Here they are:

Cary slp-98
Juciy music peach II
McIntosh c2200 or c220

The rest of the system is a musical fidelity Tri-vista dac, Vandersteen 3a's and a McIntosh mc2500.

Thanks a lot.

Mike
hanaleimike
hanaleimike OP
125 posts
 
jig,

wow.
polk432
1,116 posts
 
I had a Mac 7270 hooked to a Carver C-1. Then went to the Cary SLP98P what a difference. Then I got a Cary V12R and it sounded great. Now I have a new Cary CAD120S and it sounds better to me than a Mac 275 that was hooked up to Wilson Sophia II's, and I do not have speakers as good. I will not knock Mac, but if you get an SLP98P or L get the CAD120S, it is an unbeleiveable combo. Good luck.
br3098
660 posts
 
The Mac and Cary units are very, very different beasts. Different features, different sound, one might say designed for a different audio lifestyle. Which unit fits your system? And more importantly, which unit sounds best with your other gear?

I have no direct experience with any Juicy Music product and can't comment except to say that I have talked to several guys who are wildly enthusiastic about their Juicy units.
pdspecl
197 posts
 
My brother just picked up a Joule LA-100 MkIII tube pre and is VERY impressed with it considering $1600 spent.
I think it competes well with the Juicy Peach II - same league but obviously much different pedigree and look.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
The Juicy Music Peach is an overachiever and a lot of fun, but it's not in the same league as the Cary or McIntosh. Also the Peach II uses tubes that cannot be rolled, unlike the Peach I that uses some 6DJ8 tubes.

I'd go with the C2200.
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