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Best Vintage Preamp

Steve2536 said:
Just picked up a DH-101, what did you do to "update"? And who did it? I'm also in the Twin Cities.
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i updated the 101. I built it in 1980 (I still have the original box, assembly manual and receipt). I was kind of a Hafler fanboy and built a few of them (and started collecting dynaco tube stuff...).

I updated all caps, added films or BP caps as needed, a few TAA updates, MF resistors, ... I might have added a blue LED :rflmao:

if you need help, PM me.

rick
 
Well, I won`t be foolish to claim my purchased in 2000 an one owner (estate sale) used original Mc. C22 that was in pristine (less a burned out front panel festoon bulb replacement) original condition is a "best vintage preamp".. The C22 still had all the original Telefunken, or Bugle Boy (over 21 yrs ago since I`ve cracked it open !) tubes installed from the factory.

I preformed full factory bench specification checks on it right out of the shipping box, after assuring myself after running it all day, that I could leave it powered up over night.
I then the next day ran all bench tests again, and it still preformed to factory specs.
It sounds very, very good driving any tube amps that I own that I rotate in my tube amplification system.

I can`t speak about it`s TT front end performance SQ, since I don`t play LPs anymore since the early eighties.

It is only is sent line level audio DAC decoded WAV ripped music, though some yrs back I was sometimes feeding it from my Mc. MR-67 FM tuner to monitor my Ramsey FM LP transmitter some yrs. back for feeding my living room`s A/V rack`s selected audio signals to my added on attached car garage`s Sony receiver which at that time was not L/R audio signal hard wired to my A/V rack like it is currently.
When the weather turns cool/cold here, I turn on the Sunroom`s DQ 10 speaker tube system (the C22, and currently a pair of electrically restored by me MC 30s, and it runs all day (14 ~16 hrs.) and into the evening when it`s fired up, with no SQ issues with the C22 of any sort, including noisy controls or background hum/hiss, which is very surprising since the C22 has not been recapped or serviced.

Otherwise the Sunroom`s DQ 10s are usually fed from a very good sounding SS Mc. C33/MC2205 all day operating combo system from the same stereo audio signal source.

Not the best vintage preamp, but my example seems to be exceptionally performing by all ears that have, & do hear it, IMHO/E.

Ciao
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I just got a Rotel RC 2000, is my 1st preamp, in addition the preamp is with my tech for some repairs
Does the RC-2000 looks decent ?
https://stereonomono.blogspot.com/2010/05/rotel-rc-2000.html

Is a heavy and big preamp, but empty in the inside


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Klyne Audio Arts
Model: 7 Series
Killer Pre Amp And Perhaps One Of The Best SS MC/MM Phono Pre Amps.
I've own Mark Levinson, Pass, Mcintosh, Krell, Yamaha, Plinius, Bryston, Carver, Joule Electra, Bat, They Are All Gone, The Klyne remains in the main system, the Audio Research & Bryston are in the secondary systems.
 
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I don't know where we're placing vintage, so I'll just include my own personal choices, as I own all of these and feel that they are each excellent performers, but are markedly different in eras and design philosophies. They range from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Tube Types:

Audio Research Corporation SP-3A-1
Audio Research Corporation SP16
Conrad Johnson PV5
McIntosh C20

Solid State:

Nikko Beta II
 
Having used a Kenwood Basic C2 for quite a while, I will always hold it in high regard. But then I got an Eico HF-85 and the Kenwood was obviously (to my ears) beaten. I recently did all the TAA updates to my brother's Hafler DH-101 and was very impressed. But the Eico still is the best I have heard. (Which leaves a LOT of others still to experience)
 
In my experience, of all the preamps I've owned, the ADC B-100 designed by Mark Dineen (nice guy, emailed him once) was absolutely the best-designed and best-sounding and most neutral tube preamp ever. Each amplification stage is a cascode amplifier with a cathode follower after it. Given the multiple phonograph inputs, with built-in high quality moving coil transformers, it used an astonishing dozen 6DJ8 tubes.

Unfortunately, while the design is terrific, the execution, not so much. Very nice cabinet, marginal circuit board (careful soldering!) and a just-barely adequate power supply. Common to upgrade these with higher-power regulator transistors and higher current rectifiers. Did I mention twin power supplies with two separate power transformers?!

There were not very many of them made and one person has collected many examples, including the unit I used to own. But that would be the grail, for sure. Or build your own, I suppose. I have a schematic somewhere and I wouldn't be surprised to see it on the web somewhere.
 
for your power amp, a great pre would be the CJ PV-5. Great sound, great phono stage. But lots of demand for them now, so not easy to find one at a cheap price.
 
Had great experience with a Sony TA-E80ES.

Had A CV-something once but was disappointed at how muddy it sounded.

Got a new Luxman tube pre-amp now and quite happy but considering a preamp for a second system.
 
Good vintage preamps?

Threshold FET Ten H/L
Threshold FET Ten E
Apt Holman
Accuphase C-200
Spectral DMC-12
Counterpoint SA-3000
Adcom GFP-750
Mark Levinson No. 38

I have them all and more, so first hand experience behind the list.
 
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