Help needed for a tube pre to match......

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sksouri1456

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Dec 26, 2017
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Hi fellas;
My system consisted of devialet200 and w.a sabrina speakers.
I ve tried differents integ and amps this year and none was ticking all the boxes.
Devialet as an all in one system: pre/amp/dac/ phono is umbeatable in price but lacks musicality to my ears.
Musicality felt with the other amps i tried ,like the mbl c51 integ.
2 weeks ago a friend brought me a diy power amp to try in my system.
I used the devialet as pre/dac/streamer connected to that power amp: class ab 750watt per channel and 50 watt class a fully balanced .
I was struck and jaw dropped instantly.
It sticked all the boxes i like.
The question is: since i m still feeding that amp with devialet ,eventhough the mids became clearer , i still feel they are not as rich; milky; honey like tube like the mbl c51.
I bought the diy power amp; and i would like to pair it now with a tube preamp balanced; and a good dac.
Do you think i can reach my objectives with that approach? What would you recommend as tube pre balanced? What dac?
Audio research ref 5se; ref6; are the ones i m thinking of…
Many thks


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Lampizator first comes to mind for a good sounding tube DAC. Depending on input needs it can also have preamp capability.

Balanced tube preamps come to mind but none I feel confident to suggest "honey mids". I consider ARC as more neutral, although still a good unit.
 
Mr Peabody said:
Lampizator first comes to mind for a good sounding tube DAC. Depending on input needs it can also have preamp capability.

Balanced tube preamps come to mind but none I feel confident to suggest "honey mids". I consider ARC as more neutral, although still a good unit.
Click to expand...

Thks,
I thought about the lampi, but then, never heard one, and some review are a bit confusing.
I have an amazing clean neutral controlled bass sound now, only 5% ~10% of mids richness, fulness ,is needed for voacals , instruments.



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Knowing your budget for this would help
As Mr Peabody suggested a Lampi (like a big 7or lite 7) with volume control would probably more than fill the bill.
After going thru many tube preamps throughout the years I recently ended up with a Tubes4HiFi/ Don Sachs SP-14 6SN7 based preamp. It is (after some tube rolling) the best tube pre I have heard in my system. All of my friends that have heard it are truly smitten with the big full detailed flowing sound from it. Highly recommended.
Moderate priced DACs are Musical Paradise, Lampizator Amber and Schitt Yggdrasill.
While there are many other choices, these are worth looking into.
Good luck and have fun
 
Not likely to find "rich honey like" mids with preamps using the 6H30 tubes. That generally comes with 6SN7 based preamps and even some using 6DJ8 or 12AU7 tubes from my experience. The 6H30 based preamp generally fall in the "neutral" category like ARC or BAT.
 
Thks jadedavid,do you think the lampi with volume control will be as good as amp as a preamp?
For the dacs i ve short listed 3: yggdrasil, holo sound level 3, terminal.
Thks jack,i was looking at ps audio bhk signature pre, they use a pair of dual triode 12AU7, it is fully balanced! I think its what i m searching for. Any experience with it?


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That will depend on budget. I personally have the Renaissance V and it is an excellent unit. VAC has always been very special in the mids. My unit employees only two tubes (6dj8) in the line section (the phono section employs 3 - 12ax7s). The transformer output allows for the low impediance needed for matching just about any solid state power amp which can be a concern with some tube preamps. If the budget permits a Signature 2a SE or Master supply more of everything I enjoy with mine.
 
Drrsutliff said:
That will depend on budget. I personally have the Renaissance V and it is an excellent unit. VAC has always been very special in the mids. My unit employees two 6dj8 tubes only in the line section (the phono section employs 3 - 12au7s). The transformer output allows for the low impediance output needed for matching just about any solid state power amp which can be a concern with some tube preamps. If the budget permits a Signature 2a SE or Master supply more of everything I enjoy with mine.
Click to expand...

Totally agree.
 
Drrsutliff said:
That will depend on budget. I personally have the Renaissance V and it is an excellent unit. VAC has always been very special in the mids. My unit employees only two tubes (6dj8) in the line section (the phono section employs 3 - 12ax7s). The transformer output allows for the low impediance needed for matching just about any solid state power amp which can be a concern with some tube preamps. If the budget permits a Signature 2a SE or Master supply more of everything I enjoy with mine.
Click to expand...

Thks for the eye opening.
Wilson audio often shows his speakers with audio research, vac, vtl,etc.....
Audio.r was in my top list preamp, but reading some audiophile reviews now, make it clear that vac preamp is my best choice in my system.
My new power amp is so transparent and powerful that , i think, i hope [emoji28][emoji28], paired with a world class pre , will deliver the last degree of musicality i m searching for.
In my system now, the sound is so 3d, big, clean quiet backround( helped by many devices between macbook pro-running roon usb out to singxer usb isolation then singxer su1 bridge- aes to devialet dac),details in abondance.......
I will follow vac route now.
By the way vac signature is more in my budget, and the look is just the perfect match to my power amp wich is aluminium shiny miror.
Thks


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Drrsutliff said:
That will depend on budget. I personally have the Renaissance V and it is an excellent unit. VAC has always been very special in the mids. My unit employees only two tubes (6dj8) in the line section (the phono section employs 3 - 12ax7s). The transformer output allows for the low impediance needed for matching just about any solid state power amp which can be a concern with some tube preamps. If the budget permits a Signature 2a SE or Master supply more of everything I enjoy with mine.
Click to expand...

I couldn t find how much the signature mk2 costs?


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Reach out to a VAC dealer to inquire about retail pricing if you are interested in purchasing new. I am not sure where you reside, but I know that Mike is an authorized dealer and if you reach out to him with a private message he could be a great asset to you.
 
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