Best Pre-amp for the McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe

In related threads, the Eastern Electric Minimax has come up as a possible good choice. You can get a new one with the beefed-up power supply and improved capacitors for $850 right now-a ridiculous bargain-totally blows away the PV10 (I have a PV10a and borrowed the Minimax to listen to in my system: detail, bass response, frequency extension, realism is all leaps/bounds better than the PV10a) (both had stock tubes, BTW). The Minimax does have alot of gain though-not sure if this would affect the sonics of pairing it with the McCormack (also a high-gain design, if I remember right). Good luck!

Dawg, makes a very good point regarding gain. Whatever your choice, a quality attenuator is, IMHO, crucial with the Mc and will pay great rewards.

whyt,
check out www.audiomirror.com. this amplifier might not have a name,but sound quality to my ear are just as good as any multi thousand dollars pre-amp..just sold my Bat pre-amp for this pre-amp and couldnt be any happier..i have no affiliate with this company..just one happy customer.

Well, I've been searching the threads and I've seen a lot of good things about Rogue audio's "99" with Phono Stage (important, since I don't want to purchase a separate phono amp). Would this really be that big of a jump in overall sound quality over the CJ PV10??

I am running a Tube Audio Design 150 with my DNA-1 through Vandersteen 2 CE sigs. It has phono and can be had for about $7-800. I had five other pres in 04 and the TAD-150 sounded better than the others by a fairly wide margain, the only one that came close was the ARC SP9 MK2 with Amperex USN-CEP. Read the reviews in the A=gon review section.