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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
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I agree with several of the preamps mentioned thus far. Audio Horizons is dead
quiet. First Sound Presence Deluxe II is dead quiet. Modwright SWL9.0SE is dead
quiet. I have owned all of them.

IMO, if you have a problem with hiss using any of these three tube preamps,
then either you are more sensisitive than most to hiss, or there is something
amiss elsewhere in your system.

The Capri would be high on the list of solid state preamps based on comments
on these threads, as would a Klyne, but I have not heard either one.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Special thanks to Musical_sounds for more shilling on the NAT brand. Quickly making NAT the new D&K of 2008/2009 with his guerilla marketing.

Dawgcatching, I don't think a tube preamp will work for you, because the McCormack amps are noted for having low input impedences, and generally do not work well with tube preamps.

I'll also recommend the Klyne preamps as well as the JR Capri. Seem to be very good SS preamps. You may also consider mating your McCormack amp with the McCormack RLD-1 preamp.....could be some synergy there.

Cheers,
John
tvad
9,467 posts
 
This review states the DNA-125 has 100 kOhm input impedance. I own solid state amps with 30 kOhm input impedance, and they work well with low output impedance tube preamps.

Is this spec on the DNA-125 incorrect?
ferrari
617 posts
 
Simple get a Klyne preamp and be done with the search
newbee
4,093 posts
 
Re tube pre-amps, premium (tested for low noise) tubes can make all the difference between noise or silence. I have a bunch of tubed pre-amps and none of them make noise at 15' and most are dead quiet until you put you ear an inch or two from the tweeter, and even a couple pass dead quiet at max gain test. Now if you have a pre-amp with high gain and an amp with high sensitivity you might be hearing the sounds of a components noise floor, but that is a mis-match issue........

That said, if I wanted a SS pre-amp, I'd save a lot of money and find a used Threshold FET 10HE....its long in the tooth age wise, but sonically it is still very competitive IMHO. I used to run one with a Threshold SA amp and but for the fun I have with tubes I could still be happy if I had to have SS stuff.
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