Valve preamps … where to start

[hifinutt]

yes prices gone up a lot now calorgas for them

 

[James]

I'm very much enjoying a Copland CTA-301 preamp just now. Might be a bit outside the price range of the OP though.

 

[paulfromcamden]

Slightly left-field suggestion: you could keep an eye out for a used Bottlehead pre-amp.

 

[MEMF1980]

Oh some nice suggestions here thanks. Will do some research and May have to sell some old kit that is boxed away …

 

[calorgas]

yes prices gone up a lot now calorgas for them

Yeah I was trying to work out how long ago I had mine, probably 8+ years, doesn't time fly! Mine was only £200 mint from ebay at the time, but looked just now and the last one sold for twice that.
Tidy little things though, and nice to own.

 

[gingermrkettle]

A World Designs pre 3 might come into budget. Although it would need to be wired for the lower gain setting if a passive is usable.

 

[Darren L]

Oh some nice suggestions here thanks. Will do some research and May have to sell some old kit that is boxed away …

Another vote for the Copland CTA 301 and keep an eye out for Conrad Johnson PV series valve preamps, there was one recently forsale at £650 from a second hand dealer.

 

[Chops54]

Trancendent Sound Grounded Grid.
Fairly close to neutral with just a bit of valve magic/colouration.

I’m listening to mine atm with my NCC300s. I have another another in the upstairs system. I did have a Croft at one point but I couldn’t get on with it.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Another vote for the Copland CTA 301 and keep an eye out for Conrad Johnson PV series valve preamps, there was one recently forsale at £650 from a second hand dealer.

+1 for Conrad Johnson, sweet sounding pre and clever design with high quality parts that are built to last a lifetime.
Very easy to service as well.

 

[eksiil]

my vote would go to Croft. his pres sound superb regardless of age (I have two), allow for later upgrades, up to and including a separate PSU, if desired (I did).

 

[MEMF1980]

Thanks again, some great options to explore. Out of interest does anyone know if I’ll have any issues with the input sensitivity of a quad 606 (0.5v)?

 

[Darren]

Thanks again, some great options to explore. Out of interest does anyone know if I’ll have any issues with the input sensitivity of a quad 606 (0.5v)?

Yes you will. Most of the croft pre amps have quite high output.

 

[sideshowbob]

Yes you will. Most of the croft pre amps have quite high output.

Glenn will change that if you ask him.

 

[Dowser]

Yes you will. Most of the croft pre amps have quite high output.

not the early ones

 

[Darren]

Glenn will change that if you ask him.

I'm sure... but don't forget we are on a three hundred quid budget!

 

[Dowser]

It’s going back to 2007 or so, but my Croft Micro II cost £185 with purchase price, direct shipping to Glenn, service work and then shipping to me in Dublin. Any of the valve regulated items, if unserviced, will certainly be performing below par by now (which is why his new stuff uses solid state regulation, even if it doesn’t sound as good…a contentious statement, of course ).

 

[GT]

Thanks again, some great options to explore. Out of interest does anyone know if I’ll have any issues with the input sensitivity of a quad 606 (0.5v)?

For an amp with that sensitivity you will need a pre-amp with very low gain, preferably no gain. This is normally referred to as a buffer stage. Valve wise, it's just a cathode follower stage. It produces no gain but has a low impedance output. If you use a preamp with gain you will almost certainly need to use some in line attenuators to give you a useable range on the volume control as well as a low noise threshold.