new question, preamp

[crashhot]

if I was going to spend £2500 on a preamp, had to be valve, what would you recommend to go with my icon audio Mono blocks?

Thanks guys

 

[Tel]

AN M3 s/h, although you would have to check the gain.

Puresound L10 if you want new.

 

[hifinutt]

icon audio LA5 perhaps ?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/81717054@N07/sets/72157633945001119/

or as good as a valve amp is the tom evans vibe /pulse at around 2600 s/h

 

[crashhot]

I was looking at that icon audio, the synergy would be significant would it not…

 

[Brumjam]

Over budget, but if you want to go straight into the champions league of preamps, there's a Puresound L300 for sale in the classifieds right now. Not much outside of lottery winning money will better it. It also has high gain so attenuators might be required.

 

[falcoron]

If you can find a hovland hp100 I've not heard better though a graaf 13.5 was dammed close.

 

[crashhot]

I have the LA4mkll with my 845mkll mono's & they work very well indeed.Only issue is the pre has high gain but -10db attenuators in the back of the mono's

Sorted it no probs.

that might be a problem as I am running very sensitive speakers with a lot of power already (for these speakers anyway)

How do you put attenuators in? I can't do the soldering and Suchlike, no good at all I'm afraid…

 

[wizmax]

Hi Julian,

I had the same problem in January although my mono's are only Da Ming 845's, same budget for the pre though. I was lucky to purchase an

Audio Reaserch LS26 which is very similar to their Ref 3 and it sounds amazing. The width and depth of the soundstage is unbelievable and the inputs and facilities are very flexible, each of the 7 inputs are available on balanced XLR's or SE phono's and each has 3 stages of gain that can be set with the remote, might get over your problem of sensitive speakers. I notice that you are on the South Coast somewhere and would be more than happy for you to come along for a demo but unfortunatly my 845's are currently being repaired and I am using some bridged Rotel mono's until they return. There is currently an ex demo LS26 on the bay with only 136 hours on the valves, there is an app for that on the remote, complete with all of the original packing paperwork and mains lead, original price was £5,400. You can find a description and review at http://www.audioresearch.com/LS26.html www.audioresearch.com/LS26HF_ISS504.pdf and www.audioresearch.com/LS26Soundstage.pdf

If I can be of any more help please PM me.

Regards

Robin

 

[anubisgrau]

Over budget, but if you want to go straight into the champions league of preamps, there's a Puresound L300 for sale in the classifieds right now.

where?

 

[Brumjam]

where?

Here:

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?88802-FS-Pure-Sound-L300&highlight=L300

 

[anubisgrau]

ah, thanks!

 

[crashhot]

thank you Robin and James, food for thought and I will have a look