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Location: Yorkshire
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I'm Andrew.
Valve Pre-Amp - Any recommendations?
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?
SS
CD Teac VRDS25X(Audiotuned) DECK 1210 Mat Crystal Audio Mods MN Base/Bearing/Platter+Ebony armboard Feet Isonoe PSU Paul Hynes SR7EHD-27XL/DCSXL Ag DC lead/3 Stage Regs/Recap PCB+No Pitch/Strobe/Light ARM SME V(Kondo Ag Rewire&Tags) MC Cadenza Black FGS CABLES Arm Yannis SPD-4 IC Yannis 222 Litz+Ag bullets Power WAR PRE ATC SCA2 SPEAKERS ATC 50ASL STANDS Atacama PHONO Sugden Masterclass PA4 SUT Ortofon ST80SE POWER PSAudio P10
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PRE Croft Epoch(Modded) AMP Sondex S100 (Modded) SPEAKERS Tannoy 15"MG+RFC Warwick cabs+ Ref XO + Batpure supertweeters DECK Garrard 301 Mat Teunto Bearings 401(Bastin) Plinth Bamboo Arms 3009/3012 PSU Eagle+Tachometer MC Ag Meister II/FGS + Ortofon SPU MONO CABLES Arm Yannis 420.5 Litz+ SpeakerPC Tripple C+WBT-0681 Ag IC Oyaide FTVS-510 AgWBT 0110Ag Phonostages Paradise(4 Box Mega-Modded) / Croft Musicmaker
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Location: North Down /Northern Ireland/ UK
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I'm Neil.
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/showt...-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
Don McCorleone
Location: Galashiels
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I'm inthescottishmafia.
Speak to Nick. The Little Martha pre he made is the best sounding pre I've heard.
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I'm Geoff.
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Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6,811
I'm James.
Yup, Nicks stuff is superb! +1Originally Posted by Ali Tait
Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702
Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2
Moderator
Location: North Down /Northern Ireland/ UK
Posts: 19,484
I'm Neil.
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
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Location: The Black Country
Posts: 6,089
I'm Alan.
I've built a valve line level pre that has beaten many other including Audio Note.
See this thread http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...h-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
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Senior Member
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6,811
I'm James.
I expect this preamp to sound extremely good Alan as all your other stuff has been excellent!I've built a valve line level pre that has beaten many other including Audio Note.
See this thread http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...h-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
Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702
Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2
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Location: W Lothian
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I'm Grant.
might be selling my firebottle plus shortly (if I can live without it)as I am saving to get one AlanI expect this preamp to sound extremely good Alan as all your other stuff has been excellent!
Regards,
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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?
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