Preamp selection help/advice

[mep]

QUOTE=jazdoc;76044]A little off the beaten path but I have yet to hear anything better...The Experience Music Kahn Linestage. Two box unit with distinctive styling.

[/QUOTE]

Uh, Mark, “distinctive styling?” Wouldn’t that describe a Ford Edsel?
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...=8nbNTubjKsHK2AXr-pm3Dw&sqi=2&ved=0CEcQ9QEwBA

 

[Mike Lavigne]

i'm partial to the darTzeel NHB-18NS on your list. particularly when you consider top level analog performance for your new turntable, the dart has a very very good phono stage included. it's battery powered, and built like a Swiss tank.

unfortunately; the current list price is 30k swiss francs (CHF). so the price in dollars does fluctuate. you do see them occasionally come up for sale used and with their build quality likely not a problem.

connectivity on the dart pre is very flexible, both input and output. like all the very best pre's it's a single ended design, but it also has the XLR input and outputs, as well as the 50 ohm BNC zeel interface which does perform better than the best conventional interconnects money can buy.

it uses a simple and elegant volume remote, so it's real world. many cost no object pre's have no remote.

there are other pre's in it's performance class; but they are all even more expensive and quite a bit less flexible. the modular build of the dart pre also allows for it being future proof.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

QUOTE=jazdoc;76044]A little off the beaten path but I have yet to hear anything better...The Experience Music Kahn Linestage. Two box unit with distinctive styling.

Uh, Mark, “distinctive styling?” Wouldn’t that describe a Ford Edsel?
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...=8nbNTubjKsHK2AXr-pm3Dw&sqi=2&ved=0CEcQ9QEwBA[/QUOTE]

i think 'Dusenberg' is more like it.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Good point! Also, most tube power amps have capacitor coupling and DC on the input is not a problem. Solid-state power amps try to get away from capacitors on the input and then DC on the input IS a problem.

Yes but I remember many years ago, the DC blocking caps failing across the board in one tube manufacturer's preamplifiers and blowing up Krell amplifiers like it was nothing

 

[DaveyF]

Christian, to your list, you might want to add the CAT SL 1 Renaissance or the CAT SL1 Legend. Both tube designs, but IMHO both competitive at the very least with your other contenders.

 

[rockitman]

The XP-30 arrived on Monday. It is brand spanking new so some breakin/burnin is required. So far my impressions have been very positive. While it still needs to smooth out a bit, one thing is clear..... The unit is effortless in it's delivery of the music... Dynamics are explosive, the bass is refined, tight and extended. Instruments and voices have there own clearly defined space and seem to pop out in the soundstage on there own without restriction ie: getting homogenized with other instruments diminishing their impact in the stage. The sounds stage is wide and deep and the presentation is not too forward in your face. The treble is smooth, airy and extended. The midrange is rich and textured. I think this one will be a keeper.

 

[rblnr]

I used to think so too (no preamp better). Unfortunately, the very best preamps take away nothing, add nothing, but somehow still manage to sound better than just connecting the DAC to the power amp.

Yep, I find this too. With lesser (but still good) preamps the most obvious degradation you hear is some transparency loss when it's inserted between a DAC and the amps. Putting my Ref5 in for example, has always been an improvement regardless of the DAC.