tube preamp recommendations

I understand you'd want to hear how something sounds IN your system first. The Octal 6 (which I purchased) was a compliment to the Wave AV8s I have on one of my systems, so it worked out fine.

You can always give him a call / or e-mail and ask: (613) 387-3830 or
[email protected].

BTW - here is a recent review of one of his preamps:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/madoctal6_e.html

Ciao,

M

 

I bought a nice Weller about 5 months ago--it's still in the display wrap.

Any comments on C-J preamps?

 

Gary, my moniker is from the Grateful Dead song of the same name.

I am a reformed deadhead. But I carry my battlescars proudly.

 

I've been there too Sckott!

 

Can anyone suggest what a good price might be for a Dynaco PAS-2 or 3.

 

A good preamp doesn't call attention to itself; a bad one does. A preamp should neither add to nor take away from the source. Unfortunately, most do.

Absolutely. Tone controls induce a veiling in the circuit along with numerous other colorations.

The Hovland is I nice preamp, but has significant hum problems.(I've heard two samples and both exhibited the same problem.

 

Hi Pigmode, thanks for your input on my Mac question the other day.

As for power amps that use 12AX7's, I've never heard of one that does. What kind of power amp do you have? OTOH, there are plenty of preamps that use 12AX7's, and in that case, the Telefunken is (in most circuits) far superior to others. You have to be careful about these, though as there are many counterfeits.

 

The Nagra VPA uses 12AX7's (ECC83) in the input stage as does the EAR 534 and EAR 861. The EAR V20 uses 10 12AX7s per side as ouput tubes (valves). Much more common in pre-amps though.

All the best - Andrew

 

I just won one via Ebay for $158.50 with Telefunken smooth plate 12AX7's; it's the PAS 3-X (the model with the tone controls that have center detents to be outta the circuit at 12 o'clock). You can get one for under $200, just be patient and ask the seller to pop the hood and tell you what kind of tubes are inside; the tubes alone can be worth a lot more than the preamp itself (Tele's = midrange breath of life according to our pal Steve)...

 

Well you learn something new everyday, eh?

How many 12AX7's does that Mac amp use to develop its 40 watts, Gary.

Ashton, at 10 12AX7's per side I assume that 20 in the EAR's model number indicates its output. And yes, there are plenty of amplifiers that use 12AX7's in the input stage, but now I know of two that use them as outputs too. Must be pretty costly to retube that EAR.

 

Not as much as if a WE 300B goes pop or you use those Metal base Telefunken EL34s

I use 3 12AX7s in my EAR phono amp - I have Telefunkens - not got round to listening to them yet - I was recommended that Raytheons were the ideal match.

All the best - Andrew

 

AHA! So it DOESN'T use 12AX7's as output tubes.

I've been tinkering with tube amps for nearly 35 years, now, Gary, and I know that a 12AX7 simply doesn't push enough current to be viable as an output tube. Apparently I wasn't clear in asking my question above, but I was thinking that maybe McIntosh had hired some electronic genius who had come up with a way to use them as such.

My guess is, too, that the EAR that's using 10 12AX7's per side to produce enough signal to drive even an efficient loudspeaker would need to have its tubes (valves) changed about once every six weeks, as the 12AX7 just wasn't designed for this kind of stress.

 

No, Gary, not hardly. Dilletante yes, expert no. My tube guru is Richard Gray who has been a personal friend since 1974 (he's the guy who designed that expensive Richard Gray's Power Company line conditioner). I won't do anything tubewise until I check with him first.

As for output tubes (power tubes), there are different schools of thought on the sound of these. I happen to prefer the sound of EL34's (like what's used in a Dynaco Stereo 70, for example). Mullard makes the best sounding EL34 to these ears, but, po' folks like me can't really afford them any more, so I run cheap Chinese tubes (the Valve Art brand) for everyday use, and pull my Mullards out on those days when I really want to hear the ol' amp rip.

 

sgb,

I have Quicksilver Mini Mites, which use a single 12AX7 per side. I can keep your Mullard EL 34s warm for you till you need'em.

Anyway, I'll give Kevin a call later about some Telefunkens. I'm in the middle of some cable auditions right now.

Maybe Steve can give us a short primer on the 12AX7. Steve?

 

Yeh!!