Wanted: good quality valve preamp

[montesquieu]

wondering what is out there?

Required spec: probably line only as I have a good phono stage already, not too high gain (maybe 10db max), pref valve rectified. Probably black. Sub £1k.

Anything lurking around I should be aware of?

[hifi_dave]

Croft Micro Basic and Micro 25. Both well under £1K and black.

[Frog]

Croft Micro Basic and Micro 25. Both well under £1K and black.


Think I'd go for the Croft as well. Good value stuff. :)

[montesquieu]

Forgot to say I'm a bit of a cheapskate, second hand / custom always preferred over new kit, much better VFM. Cosmetics aren;t a priority. I've looked at the Croft kit but can't get excited about the spec.

[John]

Forget the spec and hear the sound

[montesquieu]

Can't find specs on the gain level of current Croft models, but had always assumed was quite high based on earlier models, which definitely were. One of the reasons why I'm not keen.

So ... anything other than Croft out there?

[John]

WAD preamp is nice

[John]

This might be worth a punt
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-TA-E86b-legendary-audiophile-preamp-preamplifier-/270751433888?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Amplifiers&hash=item3f0a0b04a0

[montesquieu]

Didn't know Sony made valve preamps into the 80s? :mental:

[Jonboy]

Audio Note M2 ;)

[montesquieu]

Jonboy, you selling an M2? :)

[hifi_dave]

This might be worth a punt
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-TA-E86b-legendary-audiophile-preamp-preamplifier-/270751433888?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Amplifiers&hash=item3f0a0b04a0

I bought a job lot of those from Sony when they ceased production and still have one. It's beautifully put together and has pretty well every facility you will ever need but in comparison to the Croft Micro it is flat and lack-lustre.

[Jonboy]

Jonboy, you selling an M2? :)


Just saying they are worth looking out for, sorry to get your hopes up I'm afraid not, i had one last year but they are a bit hard to come by :(