Enough toe dipping...

[Cool_Manchu]

After having a few mediocre experiences with vintage tube amps I decided to jump in with both feet today and picked up a Harmon Kardon Citation II. It's running G.E. 6550As. It was completely rebuilt internally. All of the cosmetics are original so it does have scratches and a couple of dings, but nothing major. I like that it shows it's history.

Just got it hooked up and am running it through it's paces. I will have to pair it with different speakers that I have to see what matches best. Right now I am running it with ADS 910s at a 4 ohm load.

If anyone can suggest some appropriate pre amps for it, let me know. Right now I am running it through a Marantz 2265b pre section as my Marantz 3300 is in the shop. I want to go full tube just for the experience. I am thinking I want to get the Harmon Kardon Citation I for aesthetics, but will have to do some research about what would be ideal.

 

[primosounds]

The Citiation1 would definitely be the ideal combination! Having both units together would be an impressive stereo system. But, it may not be the best sounding combination. I have a Dynaco PAS, an EICO hf85. The Dynaco was my first tube preamp and i really liked it, and the EICO is maybe a little better but seems to sound best with high quality tubes like Bugle Boy long plates ECC83, but i don't use any of them as i like the sound of Audio Electronic Supply AE3 which is a very simple preamp with just source switching and a volume control, and is very natural sounding. I really love the look of the vintage preamps but because of all the signal connections between the input jack and the output jacks there is inevitable signal degradation. This is not to say that the sound quality won't be very good and it really is very good but i prefer the simple preamp. I do have a Citation 2 and with the AE3 preamp, i really did not take notice of the preamp at all. In fact with all the different amps that i try the AE3 is pretty much out of the way and a non factor.
But perhaps, you need a phono preamp, and some tone control. If that is the case then why not go with the Citation 1? At least the tone controls on the 1 uses discrete caps for tone adjustment instead of a pot. That is the best way to have tone adjustment.

 

[airtime]

What is your price range? I'm using a Conrad Johnson Classic 2SE that costs $2300. Or a PAS kit that has already done all the "blowing out upgrades".

http://www.tubenirvana.net/pas-ng-preamp.html

I've read some VERY good reviews from people that HAVE built these
http://www.tubes4hifi.com/SP14.htm

With that Gold point attenuator and selector this thing stands behind the hype they type on the site.

 

[Cool_Manchu]

Thanks for the insights.

I think I am going to go with a Citation 1 to start with. I have part of me that is a completest and it demands I at least do that, however I have another part that is adventurous and hear new things, so who knows where I will end up.

Thus far I have mostly run the Citation II through the ADS 910s. I have it paired with the Benz Micro Ace HO and it's been an adventure. At times it can reach true audio Nirvana and at other times difficult...mostly due to the Ace and how unforgiving it is with bad pressings...

It can be very nuanced and warmish as is expected. Other times it can be a bit boomy. I look forward to trying out my 3300 when it comes back home, but will seek out the aforementioned Citation 1 (so if anyone has any leads, I'm all ears... )