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Magnavox Tube Console Preamp Needed

Tubeglowpio

Tubeglowpio

Active Member
Hi to everyone, been wondering if any of the Magnavox tube console pulls like the set and pp 6bq5 amp benefit from a pre amp? I tried using my Bottle head crack as a preamp and it sounds bad compared to the Magnavox alone, less bass and less of that El84 magic. Is this a problem with impedance, or the 12au7 and 6080 tubes not pairing well with the Magnavox? I'm hoping to buy or build a preamp for this thing in hope to get slight more loudness and fullness of the music, already using 92db speakers. Thanks!
 
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I use mine without a preamp other than a volume control. I tried a few, tube and SS but personally I think the 6bq5 PP amp I have sounds best without a preamp.
 
That's what I was starting to think, I put a 100k vol pot in mine and do love the sound but always looking for any improvements lol. I'm working on building both a tube phono and a ss phono to go with it as my phono built into my Denon 300f is lacking in some areas.
 
Single 12AU7 or 6CG7 (prefer 6CG7) for stereo channels, 0.1uf input caps, 470K grid ground resistors and 1K grid stoppers, 820 ohm 1/2w cathode resistors, 22K 2w plate resistors, .22uf 630v coupling caps. Run it on between 275-320v B+. Feed that into a 100K stereo pot, then into the existing first tube in the Magnavox amp, through a 1K grid stopper (change the existing stopper resistor, if there is one, to a 1K- or add a 1K if there isn't an existing grid stopper).

I've lost count of how many times I've done that- and it ALWAYS sounded great.

Regards,
Gordon.
 
I use a preamp with both of my Maggie amps. They are setup as stand alones. Never had a problem.
 
Dswankey said:
What do you currently have connected to it?

I have one that I use a Denon CD player with variable output plus the original remote. It's a nice little combo
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At the moment nothing. Im going to build a pair of OB's from the original woofers and horns to go with It. Im looking at cd players with adjustable ouputs as well. What Denon model do you have?
 
GordonW said:
Single 12AU7 or 6CG7 (prefer 6CG7) for stereo channels, 0.1uf input caps, 470K grid ground resistors and 1K grid stoppers, 820 ohm 1/2w cathode resistors, 22K 2w plate resistors, .22uf 630v coupling caps. Run it on between 275-320v B+. Feed that into a 100K stereo pot, then into the existing first tube in the Magnavox amp, through a 1K grid stopper (change the existing stopper resistor, if there is one, to a 1K- or add a 1K if there isn't an existing grid stopper).

I've lost count of how many times I've done that- and it ALWAYS sounded great.

Regards,
Gordon.
Click to expand...

Gordon,

Sorry if this question doesn't make sense but what does this do? eliminate having to use a preamp?
 
Lavane said:
At the moment nothing. Im going to build a pair of OB's from the original woofers and horns to go with It. Im looking at cd players with adjustable ouputs as well. What Denon model do you have?
Click to expand...

A Denon DCD 1500, you mention you have nothing connected to it, how do you feed it a musical source?
 
I was using a cdp and tuner through a 100k volume control. Most line level sources will drive it without a preamp.
 
^ Thanks, did you install the 100K volume control and if so where on the amp chassis?. Pics would be a bonus.
 
I've used tube preamps, SS preamps and no preamp at all (variable output cd player) with my 9302-00 all with success. I prefer it with tube preamps (no surprise) but I have considered adding an Alps potentiometer for stand alone use.
 
darkblue94 said:
I've used tube preamps, SS preamps and no preamp at all (variable output cd player) with my 9302-00 all with success. I prefer it with tube preamps (no surprise) but I have considered adding an Alps potentiometer for stand alone use.
Click to expand...

This thread has me thinking the same thing too, If I were to do this could I connect my Dac, which is connected to my Mac Mini, via RCA directly to the amp?
 
Yes that would work. You may be able to control the volume digitally through the DAC or the MacMini, check into that. I've been considering using my 9302 that way with my iMac desktop.
 
Thanks for that input and values Gordon and thanks everyone. As far as Maggies go this 9302 that I'm picking up tomorrow will be my second Maggie, first one got the full re-cap and resistors changed and has been on daily duty. How do the 6v6 maggies rival the 6bq5's?
 
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