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Tube preamp recommendation needed

G

Guest101

Super Member
I have a good tube power amp I haven't used in a long time. I want to use it in a system for watching movies and special TV broadcasts. I want a cheap tube preamp with 3 inputs (tv, dvd, tuner).
I was thinking of a Dynaco Pas3 because they are plentiful. Do you have any other recommendations in the cheap price range?
 
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I would specifically recommend against the PAS-3. Yes they are plentiful, but they are rarely very cheap these days, and they require completely rebuilding to even sound decent.

I could recommend any number of 80s and 90s vintage tube preamps which would be vastly superior, and which sell quite cheaply these days. Conrad-Johnson is one brand that I am particularly fond of.
 
Hello!

I second not getting a PAS. I got a Nakamichi 410 SS preamp on Craiglist for $20 and immediatly put my heavily modded PAS for sale. The difference was not small! There is a lot better to be had out there. Robert
 
I have a Music Angel preamp that is quite decent actually. It has three inputs and two pairs of pre outs.

Great little pre. I took a look and there aren't any up at that auction site at the moment. They do come up used now and then.

Cheers

Lar
 
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Personally....

I'd look for a Bottlehead FP of some type if you don't need a phono preamp.

Prolly find one on Barter Town for $200-$300...
 
analog addict said:
I'd look for a Bottlehead FP of some type if you don't need a phono preamp.

Prolly find one on Barter Town for $200-$300...
Click to expand...

There's one on Agon for $350 with several sets of tubes to roll that I bet could be had for less as it has been up for a while.

I recently got a Bottlehead II with many upgrades and it is simply an amazing preamp...note: No bells and whistles, just straight ahead tone and a huge soundstage.

Jim
 
The guy with the double-upgraded/rebuilt/redesigned/hybrid PAS-3 that he loves suggests you go with a decent solid state preamp. If you don't want to spend a lot, it just makes more sense. It will not rob your tube amp of it's goodness, I promise, and you could even get one with remote control which would be nice for your video purposes.
 
You know what I say to those who say get a SS Preamp, go pound sand! Sorry, SS lacks the soundstage, imaging and overall presentation of the music. There are several outstanding under $500 tube preamps out there. I happen to like Bottlehead as they're simple and give the listener the tone of preamps costing several thousands of dollars.

Dynaco PAS II and III's. Aric, Music Angel are a few others that will put a smile on your face.

Jim
 
im honestly looking at getting a HLLY preamp from that auction site to run my tube amp
its about 120 bucks, has 4 inputs, and a remote control
Ive researched the model number online and it has nothing but good reviews :)
 
If you want to go cheap Take a look at the Bottlehead Quickie, it's a battery powered preamp, very easy to build. It has two outputs so you would need a switch box. I built one and really enjoy the quality of sound!
 
cary said:
If you want to go cheap Take a look at the Bottlehead Quickie, it's a battery powered preamp, very easy to build. It has two outputs so you would need a switch box. I built one and really enjoy the quality of sound!
Click to expand...

I haven't tried a 'Quickie' but I've read about many folks who are very impressed with this pre at a low cost, some on this forum. I've had a Bottlehead ForeplayIII preamp for about 4 years now. It made the biggest single difference in my system. I first used it with the power section of a junky old Akai AM series integrated. I listened to my CD's all night for a week. It was that good.

If you look for one already built, get big pics of the guts so you can see the build quality. They are kit-built and you want to find one that was made well.

If you are good with your hands, build one for yourself! They are also very upgradeable if you like to tinker.
 
If you can find a Lazarus Cascade Basic, it's a nice little preamp with three inputs (Phono, Tuner, Tape) and four 12AX7 tubes. I had one for a long time but sold it about 2 years ago when I bought my Kenwood C2 Basic.

-D
 
I get the drift that the Pas-3 is too dated. Thanks
Lots of good Suggestions. I have been keeping an eye out for a CJ.
I will research Bottlehead, Hlly and Music Angel
 
GG Preamp

Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid Preamp goes for about the same as the Bottlehead Foreplay III in kit form. About five bills for each in kit form and endlessly upgradeable.

The GG has three inputs and one out. No phono stage. It is currently the heart of my AV system and works very well indeed. I've tweaked the living daylights out of mine but when I first built it, it was totally stock and sounded great with an Onkyo SS receiver that I bypassed the built-in preamp section. Thing is 25 years old and it sounded amazing. It was literally the best of both worlds as in, all the detail, clarity, speed and punch came through and the SS amp lent its ability for sheer Watts pushing a stock pair of DCM Timewindows which are difficult beasties to drive. They LIKE power.

I have tried it the other way but... It's like comparing apples to grapefruits. Totally different. To my ears, tubed preamps just add so much. The tubes will probably last the life of the unit in question as they can stretch a very long time in comparison to power tubes. Just another consideration to weigh in on.
 
Ditto that

Bought the ST-70 from Bob Latino and couldn't be more pleased. Wow.

So many flavors to this hobby. So little time...
 
I got me a Yaqin MS-12B preamp with Amperex Bugle Boys 12ax7 for the phono stage and 12au7 for the line output and it really sound real nice with my Accuphase P-350 solid state amp and my Magnepans 12's. The phono stage is very nice on this preamp. I paid around $225.00 for the preamp including shipping and around $100.00 for for the tubes in excellent condition.
 
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