My preamp history is exclusively vintage !
A VanAlstine rebuilt Dynaco PAS3x was my start. The Pas is denigrated by many, probably based upon listening to a vintage example with leaking caps and worn tubes. Slow and veiled right? But how many have listened to a fully rebuilt VA PAS ? The final version with the PT relocated to the back panel. It sounds like a different preamp. Clean articulate bass, liquid midrange, and very clean and extended HF. Great soundstage and transparency. One can easily hear changes from tube rolling. Still a bit of a sleeper and found for abt $500 give or take. If I had to go back to a low cost minimalist vintage system, I would use this preamp and a pr of restored Heathkit W4 amps.
Next step was to a Conrad Johnson PV5. Better phono stage and sounded more tubey lush in comparison. Great transparency and easy to listen to. Mine went through tubes and was sensitive to microphonic/noisy tubes. This pre allows for independent selection of left or right channels. I found this to be useful when listening to mono LPs.
I upgraded to an Audible Illusions M3 which was a revelation in comparison. Really good pre with an excellent phono stage. Dual volume controls were sometimes difficult to use however. Still cheap. I sold it when I found a great deal on a M3A.
I currently use an ARC SP10mk2. All of the good parts of the above preamps and then some. It excels at microdynamics and delivers 3D spacial information. I can hear small changes in height when a musician moves around for example. Ability to change phono loading is very useful along with ability to run 2 TT without changing leads.
I recently acquired a Mac MX110Z. It will be restored before any serious listening is done.
One of these days I will look for a Fisher 400cx.
I have experience with
Hafler DH101 Nice cheap pre that is easily improved. Musical Concepts used to sell an upgrade package that substantially improves the sound of this pre by removing tendency to sound shrill, while improving detail resolution and soundstage.
NAD 3020 (integrated amp) run as a preamp. Good clean relaxing sound at the expense of frequency extremes and transparency. Rather than sounding ragged and fatiguing, this design does not resolve every detail and sounds better for it. Sins of omission as it were.
McIntosh C26 C28. Both were in good operating condition. Just ok sounding and better suited to background or non critical listening. But I can understand how and why so many people love them.
Marantz 7c. Mine was completely rebuilt with all new caps, resistors and upgraded PS. Maybe the rebuild went overboard, but my example sounded underwhelming. Narrow soundstage, not much depth or inner detail. Frequency extremes were well defined and midrange was attractive.
Harman Kardon Citation 1. Mine was restored, not rebuilt...new PS and one or two caps. Sound was good, and I could hear the potential for better sound through a more comprehensive rebuild. Flexibility was welcome. I know many love this one, and I have an open mind.
Just my opinions, others may differ.
