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Solid State Preamp recommendation for $2500?

Hi,

I am looking for some Solid State preamp recommendations. My budget is up to $2500, new or used, perhaps could be stretched to $3000 for something really special. I have fairly neutral, easygoing equipment (upgraded McCormack amp and Tyler Acoustics speakers) and like to listen to all kinds of music, but primarily jazz, classical, electronic, and some rock.

Due to changing circumstances in my system (or rather discoveries) I have pretty much determined that a solid state preamp is the only thing that will work in my system. I have an amp and speaker combo that puts out some serious white noise from tube preamps (I have tried 4 so far, all with the same results, and all preamps were OK in other systems). I have tried 2 solid state preamps, both were dead quiet. So, it is either get rid of the amp, or get a solid-state preamp. As my amplifier is a McCormack DNA-125 rev Gold, I would take a serious hit if I were to sell it, and it sounds pretty darn good. I am guessing I would have to spend alot more than the $2200 I have into it to get comparable performance. Unfortunately, I love tube preamps, but am totally fed up with background hiss that is audible at 15 feet and muddies the music.

I did hear a Classe CP-700 recently that sounded wonderful, but it overshoots my budget, and I can't help but think I am paying for features that I don't need, like the cool but (for me) useless interface). I just want a nice 2-channel preamp, old-school/no remote is fine.
dawgcatching
drjoe
130 posts
 
You might look at a Spectral 30S. You don't need to use Mit in your application. There are two on audiogon. I would think you could get it foe 3K.
Joe
ferrari
617 posts
 
In regards to Classe pre amps the DR 7 ranks as one of the all time best reference preamps. Although not many produced due to its high cost, it remains today as reference for many equipment and music reviewers world wide. Very hard to find and only about one a year show up in the pre owned market and usually sell in the $2,500.00 to $3,500.00 depending on condition, and if comes with box and manual. It is a stunning performer.

As for myself I am using a Coda 01p preamp and could not be happier.
dawgcatching OP
139 posts
 
Update: I got my hands on a Dehavilland to try out, and it was noisy as well. Luckily, there were some other NOS tubes around to try, so I swapped in a Hytron 6SN7 and, for once, my system is quiet! Wow, does it sound good!

I may just go the Dehavilland route! According to Kara, it mates much better with very sensitive amps such as the McCormack. I am going to get a good SS unit in here to compare it with. The Dehavilland's soundstage is incredible and very realistic, but from what I can hear, the Classe was more taut in the low end. Also, on the Dehavilland, some trumpets come across as screechy: I am not sure if it was recorded this way and I just wasn't hearing it before. I heard slightly more detail on the Classe (like violiin strings reverberating that aren't quite there on the Dehavilland).

Thanks for all of the responses. It gives me something to work with if I do decide to get a solid state unit. I wish I had known about the possible incompatibility with a sensitive amp and a tube preamp before I went preamp hunting: then again, the journey is always fun!
sbank's avatar
sbank
2,038 posts
 
The Dehavilland and the Herron are both great, and should be dead quiet. The Herron is as quiet as most ss preamps. I'm glad to see you are doing better now w/the Ultraverve, but it still seems strange that you have been having a problem with any of those you've mentioned. Have you discussed the problem w/Steve McCormack? Cheers,

Spencer
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Thanks for the update...yes, the journey IS the adventure....enjoy the ride. Tube rolling is fun for some, not so much so for others.

Thanks for starting this thread though and thanks to Ferrari I now know Classe made a DR 7. I have heard/owned/enjoyed many Classe products, but never heard of the DR 7 until now. That's wht makes these threads so fun and informative. FWIW Ferrari, I also owned a Coda 01p many years ago, and it is another great SS preamp suggestion. One of the best full function SS preamps out there, especially considering the price one could buy a used one for. However, I currently reside in Tubesville, and I can't see any going back to SS for me. I know enough to never say never though.....

Cheers,
John
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