HELP on narrowing the search for a new Pre-amp

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Bigiron2

New member
Joined
Apr 24, 2014
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3
Location
Chicago
I would love to hear any input you guys have on the following Pre-amps.
1. Purity Audio- Reference II
2. NAT- Symetrical
3. Herron- VTSP-3A02
4. Coincident- Statement Linestage

Will be pairing the pre with Pass Labs XA60.5 & Vienna Acoustics Mahler's

To give a little background, I currently have the Simaudio 350P, but recently auditioned a BAT VK-33,ARC LS27, Manley Labs 300b,Ayre Kx-5. hands down the BAT was the most detailed pre I've heard in my system and most likely will be purchasing unless any of the four listed above can out do it.
I hope to demo the above units in my system in time, but wondering if anyone has had any experience with the above mentioned pre's

Thank you all in advance
 
Welcome to the forum Bigiron2!

I think we have members with experience with some of those preamps. Good Luck!
 
Sorry I can't help on any of the mentioned preamps. I've heard a couple, but not enough to comment. Sorry.

With Pass XA amps, I've liked Pass (obviously) and ARC preamps. Another good one was my Classe CP800 with my XA160.5's.


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I have had a piece from Keith Herron in my system for the last ten years or so. I believe the quality of his work is superior to brands costing multiples of his prices. His preamp is as good as gets for anywhere near it's cost. I love his amps and phono stage, too. So much of my system changes on a regular basis, but my phono pre, a Herron VTPH-2 is here to stay. BTW, his customer service is outstanding, also He is accessible and always willing to help. If you speak with anyone who has owned one of his products, I am pretty sure that they will tell you the same.

Herron Audio: VTPH-2 Phono Preamplifier
 
Thanks for the input Brucelet, I talked to Keith and am considering getting one on his trail basis, but I'm waiting till after the Axpona show here in Chicago this weekend.

madfloyd, I'm having trouble getting a demo of the Pass XP-20, I see you have the XP-30 have you ever had the opportunity to compared it to a tube pre ?
for whatever reason every SS pre I've auditioned with my system has sounded dry & a little lifeless.
 
Bigiron2 said:
Thanks for the input Brucelet, I talked to Keith and am considering getting one on his trail basis, but I'm waiting till after the Axpona show here in Chicago this weekend.

madfloyd, I'm having trouble getting a demo of the Pass XP-20, I see you have the XP-30 have you ever had the opportunity to compared it to a tube pre ?
for whatever reason every SS pre I've auditioned with my system has sounded dry & a little lifeless.
Click to expand...

I have had many tube amps and they sound very different from the Pass preamps. I also haven't had any success mating a tube preamp with Pass amplifiers (impedance mismatch I believe). I have a great tube pre and amplifiers and if I use the pre with my XA160's it sounds pretty dull. On the other hand if I use the Pass pre with my tube amps it sounds very good.

I think you'll want to check the output impedance of any tube pre that you consider and make sure it will work with the input impedance of your XA60.5.
 
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