Valve Pre-Amp - Any recommendations?

[Wakefield Turntables]

I've owned a grand total of 2 valve preamps in my life the Radford SCA-25 preamp and the Croft Micro-Basic. Both are great amps but I'd like to evolve my valve system to the next level. I've been thinking about some Audio Research kit with maybe a decent pre and and a couple of monoblocks. I'd be quite happy to accept recommendations for new kit, and would be prepared to spend quite a bit on old reference gear. Budget is somewhere bewteen £5-15K. Any ideas?

[Spectral Morn]

Well the Balanced Audio Technology VK31 Se line pre-amplifier I have for sale, could be an option. Valve 6H30 based, with mono, phase reversal, balance control, two XLR in, 3 RCA in, Tape out, variable RCA and XLR. Full remote. You can set individual inputs level to make them all same and name them too.

When new was £5000 not including remote, remote was a £500 option.

Details here http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?34917-For-Sale-Balanced-Audio-Technology-VK31-Se-pre-amplifier

£2400 I had it fully serviced recently and a new BAT volume control fitted, an upgrade on the older type.

This pre would work well with other balanced power-amplifiers or single ended, both solid state and valve.

Would free up quiet a bit of your budget to get a new or S/H power amplifier or mono blocks.

Just a thought and I hope you don't mind me offering it as a suggestion.



Regards Neil

[Ali Tait]

Speak to Nick. The Little Martha pre he made is the best sounding pre I've heard.

[walpurgis]

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?39195-Cary-Audio-SLP-05-pre-amp

[Jimbo]

Speak to Nick. The Little Martha pre he made is the best sounding pre I've heard.

Yup, Nicks stuff is superb! +1

[Spectral Morn]

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?39195-Cary-Audio-SLP-05-pre-amp

Yep that's another option and if you contact LW Audio http://lwaudio.co.uk/ he can supply Cary power amplifiers as a match. He also sells Audio Music.


Regards Neil

[Firebottle]

I've built a valve line level pre that has beaten many other including Audio Note.
See this thread http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?38841-A-visit-to-RJS-aka-mixing-it-with-the-big-boys

I am building the phono section to make it a line/phono preamp, 4 inputs, MC/MM phono, remote control.

I will be sending one to NEBO6, save your money till you've heard it, for a lot less than your budget :)

[Jimbo]

I've built a valve line level pre that has beaten many other including Audio Note.
See this thread http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?38841-A-visit-to-RJS-aka-mixing-it-with-the-big-boys

I am building the phono section to make it a line/phono preamp, 4 inputs, MC/MM phono, remote control.

I will be sending one to NEBO6, save your money till you've heard it, for a lot less than your budget :)

I expect this preamp to sound extremely good Alan as all your other stuff has been excellent!:thumbsup:

[struth]

I expect this preamp to sound extremely good Alan as all your other stuff has been excellent!:thumbsup:

might be selling my firebottle plus shortly (if I can live without it)as I am saving to get one Alan:eyebrows:

[montesquieu]

I'm in the midst of getting Will of Radford Revival to build one for my STA100. The requirements are almost identical to what you would need for the STA25.

He has the design already and he's even commissioned custom transformers for it. He has the bits sitting on his work bench.

Can I suggest you speak to him, maybe if he has to to build one alongside mine they can both skip up the work queue a little!

He has already described the design principles to me and I'm sold on it. The suggestions above are all great ideas (I didn't know Nick Gorham had done a pre - I've have been interested in that) but what could be better than a custom Radford pre for a Radford amp?

[Firebottle]

He has already described the design principles to me and I'm sold on it.

Care to share the beans?

:)

[montesquieu]

Can't cut and paste as it was a phone conversation largely over my head but essentially the voltage (or was it current?) is controlled by FETs leaving the 6SN7s operating always in their sweet spot so it's technically a hybrid. Vanishingly low noise and measurable distortion, and multiple power supplies for all the various stages (four I think though may be more) to keep noise and distortion down. Made to drive anything (very high - or was it very low?! - output impedance). Very much in the Radford tradition and designed exactly for the amount of gain the STA100 needs. Actually I think the gain was variable by jumper thanks to the FET stage.

Re-reading that just shows my ignorance but Will is a veritable genius and I trust what he tells me.

[PaulStewart]

I have used many Pre/Power combinations over the years and I think my current set up of Art Audio VPL pre and triode mode AA Quintet is the best I've owned. I have also used the VPL to drive everything frob Quad 11s to Yamaha power amps and i has always performed. Well worth a listen.

[Ninanina]

I used a Conrad Johnson PV10 pre for a while and thought is was excellent... maybe something further up the Conrad line might suit... just a thought ;)

[Brumjam]

Try and listen to a Puresound L300 if you can cope with the rather large dimensions. There are a couple for sale on different forums for around £2,500 which is a bargain considering the performance on offer. Also worth considering Shindo preamps if you can find any for sale :)

[walpurgis]

You say you want a valve pre-amp. There are superb alternatives. Have you considered Music First products? They have advantages, no valves for a start, so no tube rolling and biasing to be involved with. No power lead to get in the way or power supply hum fields near sensitive low level signals and there's the sound quality of course. TVC pre-amps just have something you just don't get elsewhere. Check the reviews. MF products have been described on more than one occasion as 'the best preamplifier in the world'.

Here's just one review:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/musicfirst/passive.html

[struth]

I've got a tvc and have to say its a revelation

[montesquieu]

I've got a tvc and have to say its a revelation

Enjoyed my MFA MkII but whether it works well or not is incredibly source-dependent ... mine worked incredibly well with my AN tube dac and with the Longdog MM tube phono stage, but sounded flat with the Aurorasound Vida. It's not a panacea, worth borrowing one before buying one.

[walpurgis]

I've got a tvc and have to say its a revelation

Yup. I can't get over how good my unit is! Last active pre's were Pass & VTL products. Very good, but this TVC is in a different league.

[walpurgis]

Enjoyed my MFA MkII but whether it works well or not is incredibly source-dependent ... mine worked incredibly well with my AN tube dac and with the Longdog MM tube phono stage, but sounded flat with the Aurorasound Vida. It's not a panacea, worth borrowing one before buying one.

Makes sense. With any equipment really.

[anubisgrau]

I've owned a grand total of 2 valve preamps in my life the Radford SCA-25 preamp and the Croft Micro-Basic. Both are great amps but I'd like to evolve my valve system to the next level. I've been thinking about some Audio Research kit with maybe a decent pre and and a couple of monoblocks. I'd be quite happy to accept recommendations for new kit, and would be prepared to spend quite a bit on old reference gear. Budget is somewhere bewteen £5-15K. Any ideas?

it's enough of money to get a DHT based pre. lots of development in the recent years made that concept a game changer when it comes to preamps. for that money you can have a state of the art DHT pre custom made by thomas mayer. maybe you can try to negotiate a discount price he gave during the munich fair for a 10Y preamp, it was under 10k euros, about 7k GBP.




Can't cut and paste as it was a phone conversation largely over my head but essentially the voltage (or was it current?) is controlled by FETs leaving the 6SN7s operating always in their sweet spot so it's technically a hybrid.

it's called constant current source - CCS - and it's not a hybrid as the MOSFETs are not anyhow involved on the signal path, it's an active plate load (instead of more traditional passive options like trafo, choke or resistive load - still preferred by some for sonics)

in reality it's a pure valve preamp.

[Audio Advent]

Has anyone ever used a Convergent Audio Technologies SL1 in any form over the years?

http://www.soundbysinger.com/UserFiles/image/cat_sl1_legend_inside.jpg

[Audio Advent]

Hey for that budget you could get an EAR 912 control centre:

http://affordableaudio.biz/images/912n.jpg

[montesquieu]

it's enough of money to get a DHT based pre. lots of development in the recent years made that concept a game changer when it comes to preamps. for that money you can have a state of the art DHT pre custom made by thomas mayer. maybe you can try to negotiate a discount price he gave during the munich fair for a 10Y preamp, it was under 10k euros, about 7k GBP.





it's called constant current source - CCS - and it's not a hybrid as the MOSFETs are not anyhow involved on the signal path, it's an active plate load (instead of more traditional passive options like trafo, choke or resistive load - still preferred by some for sonics)

in reality it's a pure valve preamp.

Thanks Gordan, really helpful.

I've had a crack at the DHT route, with a Tram2 (which was glorious in many ways, but frustratingly microphonic and its control circuts were a bit strange) and a Y10 based pre from Tektron which wasn't bad at all for the money but was also microphonic. Has Thomas Mayer cracked that problem (and the overall noise issue) with DHTs?

BTW to Rexton - if an EAR 912 is in your budget it's hard to see how you could do better. Vinyl tweaker's paradise.

[anubisgrau]

Thanks Gordan, really helpful.

I've had a crack at the DHT route, with a Tram2 (which was glorious in many ways, but frustratingly microphonic and its control circuts were a bit strange) and a Y10 based pre from Tektron which wasn't bad at all for the money but was also microphonic. Has Thomas Mayer cracked that problem (and the overall noise issue) with DHTs?

BTW to Rexton - if an EAR 912 is in your budget it's hard to see how you could do better. Vinyl tweaker's paradise.

the noise and microphonic issues are pretty much a past thing given the developments in the last decade. rod coleman's and similar filament bias significantly lowered the noise floor while it's now common that the DHTs are mounted on the spring or rubber suspension. mayer's favourite 10Y is possibly the trickiest tube to work with and apparently he managed to tame the problems.

the 9500e one:
http://vinylsavor.blogspot.com/2015/05/live-from-munich-high-end-2015-line.html

you can see here how a microphonic free 10Y performance is ensured:
http://vinylsavor.blogspot.de/2014/06/differential-10y-line-preamp-part-1.html

i agree re 912 btw...

[sjs]

the noise and microphonic issues are pretty much a past thing given the developments in the last decade. rod coleman's and similar filament bias significantly lowered the noise floor while it's now common that the DHTs are mounted on the spring or rubber suspension. mayer's favourite 10Y is possibly the trickiest tube to work with and apparently he managed to tame the problems.

the 9500e one:
http://vinylsavor.blogspot.com/2015/05/live-from-munich-high-end-2015-line.html

you can see here how a microphonic free 10Y performance is ensured:
http://vinylsavor.blogspot.de/2014/06/differential-10y-line-preamp-part-1.html

i agree re 912 btw...

Gordon

I did fit Rod Coleman filament regs to both my 2A3 Tram2 and Tom's 45 Tram2, and they did remove the majority of background noise and hash, and significantly improved clarity and tone colour, however microphonics was still an issue with both. The Tram2 used an isolated sub-chassis, however it has a sort of mu-follower derived circuit with the volume control in the grid circuit, before the gain stage. This means any mechanical microphonics is unattenuated en route to the power amp.

Thomas' design approach is a little different, he has the valve gain stage with a step-down output transformer driving an autoformer volume control on the output, so the valve microphonics are attenuated by the output transformer, and even then are only audible in ratio with the audio signal as the volume rises. This approach, plus the mechanical isolation and the filament supply provides the overall solution.

I currently have a 26 DHT line stage which uses a step down output transformer, and even though I have old globe 26 it is less microphonic than the Tram2, and also sounds less "electronic", which is nice. Last year I was re-antiquated with a 417A transformer coupled line stage I built about 18 years ago, and tbh it had much of the "magic" of the 26 preamp, which I think is down to using transformer coupled output.

So, back to the earlier suggestion from Brumjam for the Pure Sound L300 which is a transformer coupled line stage, with a 300B in the power supply regulator, what's not to like? :)

[Spectral Morn]

Has anyone ever used a Convergent Audio Technologies SL1 in any form over the years?

http://www.soundbysinger.com/UserFiles/image/cat_sl1_legend_inside.jpg

Worked for a dealer once that sold them and they sounded wonderful back then, early 90s, but I felt the build quality then - note I say then - was pretty poor in my opinion based on the price. I haven't seen or heard a contemporary example so no idea what they look like or sound like now.


Regards Neil

[anubisgrau]

Gordon

I did fit Rod Coleman filament regs to both my 2A3 Tram2 and Tom's 45 Tram2, and they did remove the majority of background noise and hash, and significantly improved clarity and tone colour, however microphonics was still an issue with both. The Tram2 used an isolated sub-chassis, however it has a sort of mu-follower derived circuit with the volume control in the grid circuit, before the gain stage. This means any mechanical microphonics is unattenuated en route to the power amp.

Thomas' design approach is a little different, he has the valve gain stage with a step-down output transformer driving an autoformer volume control on the output, so the valve microphonics are attenuated by the output transformer, and even then are only audible in ratio with the audio signal as the volume rises. This approach, plus the mechanical isolation and the filament supply provides the overall solution.

I currently have a 26 DHT line stage which uses a step down output transformer, and even though I have old globe 26 it is less microphonic than the Tram2, and also sounds less "electronic", which is nice. Last year I was re-antiquated with a 417A transformer coupled line stage I built about 18 years ago, and tbh it had much of the "magic" of the 26 preamp, which I think is down to using transformer coupled output.

So, back to the earlier suggestion from Brumjam for the Pure Sound L300 which is a transformer coupled line stage, with a 300B in the power supply regulator, what's not to like? :)



hi simon

maybe a nice DHT preamp would be a good project for the SJS brand or you could build a bespoke one for the OP?

i may be biased but i did hear at least two DHT units recently that left me with a clear mind about its sonic advantages. one was a DIY built with 4P1L tube - just as widely discussed over at DIYaudio.com - the other was a 45 pre built by tatic audio (who did my former monoblocks). the later was meant to use in a complex semi active system only from 200hz up so they didn't bother with a network hum but it clearly had the most musical flow i had in my room.

i have no doubts that great results can be made with small triodes as we all know, but in the very same what the DHT amps are very very special, also the DHT preamps bring something magical and completely unique, especially if transformer coupled. that's a clear game end for me. i just can't have anyone near me to build a nice 26 or 45 amp, i have no hands for that and most of the builders are scared with so many sensitive issues....

[sjs]

hi simon

maybe a nice DHT preamp would be a good project for the SJS brand or you could build a bespoke one for the OP?

i may be biased but i did hear at least two DHT units recently that left me with a clear mind about its sonic advantages. one was a DIY built with 4P1L tube - just as widely discussed over at DIYaudio.com - the other was a 45 pre built by tatic audio (who did my former monoblocks). the later was meant to use in a complex semi active system only from 200hz up so they didn't bother with a network hum but it clearly had the most musical flow i had in my room.

i have no doubts that great results can be made with small triodes as we all know, but in the very same what the DHT amps are very very special, also the DHT preamps bring something magical and completely unique, especially if transformer coupled. that's a clear game end for me. i just can't have anyone near me to build a nice 26 or 45 amp, i have no hands for that and most of the builders are scared with so many sensitive issues....

Gordon

I actually have this 26 preamp built by Rui http://www.bartola.co.uk/valves/2013/02/20/26-dht-preamp-gen2-by-rui-lourenco/

I have removed the Salas shunts and moved to just passive LCLC and it is very nice. The change improved the timing, particlarly at LF which sounded a bit slow and detached with the shunt reg. It's currently out on loan but I need to move it on at some point. You are spot on with the "musical flow" of the DHT, and this is the bit that even the 417A unit does very well, if not quite with the big tone drama of the 26

The SJS brand? :) Many ideas, but not enough time unfortunately, the new phono has taken nearly 2 years to bring to fruition! However, I do have some very nice custom made prototype OTX for 417A and 26 line stages waiting for me to build something.

Cheers
Simon

[montesquieu]

Gordon

I actually have this 26 preamp built by Rui http://www.bartola.co.uk/valves/2013/02/20/26-dht-preamp-gen2-by-rui-lourenco/

I have removed the Salas shunts and moved to just passive LCLC and it is very nice. The change improved the timing, particlarly at LF which sounded a bit slow and detached with the shunt reg. It's currently out on loan but I need to move it on at some point. You are spot on with the "musical flow" of the DHT, and this is the bit that even the 417A unit does very well, if not quite with the big tone drama of the 26

The SJS brand? :) Many ideas, but not enough time unfortunately, the new phono has taken nearly 2 years to bring to fruition! However, I do have some very nice custom made prototype OTX for 417A and 26 line stages waiting for me to build something.

Cheers
Simon

Really interesting Simon ... for all its frustrations (in particular the flaky DIY hifi supply control circuitry) that Tram2 DHT - using 45 tubes - was the most vivid, musical and holographic pre I've run in my system. I had assumed some of the issues with it were inherent to the DHT approach in general but this looks pretty cool.

[anubisgrau]

the most vivid, musical and holographic pre

it's due to DHT. just as 45 i tried here. there's no replacement for that.

luckily the issues are now easier than ever to tackle. still not bread and butter but good hands and smart brain can sort it out.

[sjs]

Tom
Many aspects of the Tram2 were hugely compromised and a bit flaky, but it did give an insight into what a dht preamp can do, which was enough for me to go for the 26 pre after the Tram2. This is now really nicely delivered and is a really fine sounding unit, all the best bits the Tram2 hinted at, but in a much more complete package.
There is still some microphony from the globe 26 but it's little enough to live with long term given the upside of the rest of what it does.
Maybe I should try Thomas' autoformer output approach but I am nervous of too many transformers in the chain due to past experience. ....
I have some 10Y, 01a, 26, 45 waiting on some attention, so it will happen at some stage, but before them I am doing a custom transformer output headphone amp.
Cheers

[hifinutt]

may I echo the recommendations for a mfa tvc but there are some lovely arc ls27 for sale . one at emporium , 9 months old at 3750 and an import on pfm at 3k

hi fi guy has a nice rca audionote m2 for 750

and of course bd audio have the ever popular modwright ls100 at 2750

some great options . I have been very tempted by the audionote which punch well above their price point

[Wakefield Turntables]

I really fancied some ARC stuff. The EAR 912 looks the dog. I'm in the process of getting a short list sorted.

Has anyone tried any of the Icon Audio stuff?

What about Audio Note, any recommendations?

[montesquieu]

I really fancied some ARC stuff. The EAR 912 looks the dog. I'm in the process of getting a short list sorted.

Has anyone tried any of the Icon Audio stuff?

What about Audio Note, any recommendations?

I've tried a few Audio Note preamps, on this budget I woudn't be bothered with anything less than an M5. In fact an M2 with a few upgrades to me sounded better than the M3 which in my experience was pretty compromised. (My DAC - super hi-b transformer output with high nickel cores - is arguably an M5 with a digi board up front and no volume controls).

At this level any of the Icons would be hopelessly outclassed.

I've never tried an ARC in my system so can't really comment.

As mentioned by others, the L300 is definitely worth exploring as well.


EDIT: Hey 888 posts, don't I get a bag of Opal Fruits or something?!!

[Andrei]

Consider AVM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udt8gOV2-Y0

[topoxforddoc]

Up to £15k is serious money for a preamp. For that money, you should go and listen to a TRON Syren II. The original Syren was reviewed here in 2005 and compared to some uber expensive stuff including the Kondo M77. Since then , this has been upgraded further.

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue21/nack_set.htm

"The TRON Syren pre-amp had the daunting challenge of following the ANJ Ongaku M77, by far the finest pre I, or anyone else I know, has encountered. While the Syren couldn't match the natural voice of the ANJ—it didn't nail the signature gestalt of each instrument quite as well—it more than held its own: this was the only pre I could listen to after the ANJ. There was no thought of a quick dismissal, as with all the others I tried post-M77. I don't see why I shouldn't say right now this is the second finest pre I've encountered (line stage MSRP $12,000).

Like the M77, the Syren came fitted with an optional, rather amazing, built-in phono stage. Everything noted so far about the TRON sound was taken to another level using its phono stage: clear, crisp, precise image placement; dynamics with a seemingly unlimited ceiling; and a very weighty, percussive low-end. This was BIG sound and BIG soundstage. Dynamic peaks were even cleaner. I was able to enjoy some of those problem LPs, you know, the ones that sound great until a crescendo and then you hear what you thought was master tape or LP groove saturation—no more. I got the impression my vinyl playback was honest to the grooves. (This is perplexing, because I had attributed that peak distortion to my analog front-end. Now I must assume it was really happening somewhere downstream, in the phono stage, pre-amp or amp. My turntable deserves more respect than I've been granting.) The Syren with MC phono is a steal at $15,000.

The adjective mentioned above regarding string sound through the TRON—romantic—has to be qualified to line stage performance only, and then only provisionally. I didn't hear it with phono. Now, to the extent that the phono winds up in the line stage just like the digital front-end, I suppose I should attribute that romanticism to the front-end itself (hint: the digital front-end is running through the Reimyo ALS-777: it's time to turn off the conditioner. Yeah, and while I'm at it, I guess I should remove some of the Harmonix footers from under the digital. This TRON gear doesn't need the warmth, body, weight and tuning that Reimyo/Harmonix stuff provides.)

Tonal balance came in close to the Loth-X, lighter than the Reimyo and darker than the ANJ. The TRON sounds great as delivered, without ancillary footers or power conditioning. It needed very little tampering with to spin its charms and was up and running in short order. Its elegant, high-modernist design—it's really very cool looking—is something you might find showcased in an upscale magazine like Architectural Digest. Hand-made from soup to nuts by a single craftsman, that being Graham Tricker, the firm's proprietor, its bespoken quality was evident."

Alternatively for your budget of £15k you could buy a new TRON Seven Reference preamp and a TRON Atlantic 300B power amp with cash to spare.

[struth]

Would definitely be buying used. Let someone else take the hit

[topoxforddoc]

Would definitely be buying used. Let someone else take the hit

Grant,

That's fine, if you want something that's easily available. But at this sort of budget, some of the really nice stuff is produced in small quantities and often only to order. Those customers tend not to sell on, so you rarely see this stuff second hand. I hardly ever see a second hand Schroeder or Thales tonearm for sale, or for that matter TRON, ANJ Kondo or Lamm.

Sure, there are plenty of heavily promoted high end brands, which sell well, but which sound slightly short of the mark. At the end of the day, if the hi-fi community wants to keep a wide range of products available, someone has to buy a new one. It's all about service too. Something like TRON is made to order; GT takes great care to make sure that the unit supplied suits the customer's other kit e.g. ensuring that the pre amp output matches the customer's power amp.

Also a proper high end dealer would come and supply this into your home, set it up and make sure that it was sounding perfect. Graham Tricker from TRON even drove to Switzerland to deliver a customer's order and to set it up. You don't get that on a used sale.

Charlie

[Wakefield Turntables]

Tron, EAR 912, and Audio Research have been added to the short list.

I've seen Lamm stuff but never heard it so this wont be going on the list.

And anything I buy will probably be 2nd hand, yep, I like the idea of not having to take that hit as well Grant!

[Marco]

Hi Andy,

If it helps, I've heard the above preamps reasonably recently in a familiar system, and can say quite categorically that as good as they were, IMO, the Cary Ian's selling here is sonically superior, by a considerable margin, as well as looking fabulous:

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?39195-Cary-Audio-SLP-05-pre-amp&p=661153#post661153

Its big advantage is that it uses 6SN7 valves, which IME are *the* best preamp tubes known to man - much bigger and more solid and expansive sounding than the usual ECC83s, etc.

With that huge off-board power supply and gorgeous VU meters, which glow all blue in the dark, and its huge effortless sound, the Cary will probably be the last preamp you'll ever need :cool:

Marco.

[topoxforddoc]

If you're looking for a second hand TRON Seven line stage, there's one for sale now at £1500 - verily a bargain

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?121220-Tron-7-line-stage

[AlexM]

There would be some nice C-J options within that price range too. definitely not to be discounted.

ET3 SE Phono or ET5 should be possible. I have an ET3 with Phono and it is a truly excellent sounding bit of kit.

[hifinutt]

If you're looking for a second hand TRON Seven line stage, there's one for sale now at £1500 - verily a bargain

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?121220-Tron-7-line-stage
Yes I have heard good things about them and can,t understand why the one at lotus HiFi has not sold at 1495 after many months . I can highly recommend the pure sound L10 too

The little audio m_one I had recently was pretty good and hi fi guy has an m2 at 750 pounds which would be rather delicious . be audio have a very nice modwright ls100 at 2750

[walpurgis]

If money is a consideration, one can do a lot worse than an EAR 834L. I used one for a few years. It's very musical. Prices going up though these days.

[Rush2112]

I used a Audio Research LS 7 not one of their more expensive models and only single ended but great sound and straight forward to use

[User211]

Cayin SC-10. Seriously good line stage preamp that sounds better to me that my previous EAR868PL - which is the same circuit as the 912 but with less features.

It's Chinese though so has absolutely no cred. I picked mine up for £900 on the 'bay, but I can't be sure that sounds 100% the same as an SC-10 as it has been modified by Hit Audio.

[nekoni koban]

In that range, I would join others here in recommending Thomas Mayer's products, in particular his 10Y line stage. I have his d3a LCR phono stage, and it is a marvel, both in terms of sound and build quality. (It is also a monster... together with its separate power supply it weighs in at well over 40 kilos..). You can also have him do them with silver-wound transformers..as you like. If you were at the Munich High-End this year, you probably had a chance to hear his 10Y line stage driving his 10Yx300B monoblocks into Wolf von Langa's field-coil speakers. This is something just beyond words.