Shacky Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 I’m currently using an NAD preamp through an Odyssey Stratos amp for my AR9. Wondering if others use tube preamp to add a little magic to the sound. Not that it’s not already magical 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 I got rid of my Bob Latino ST120 tube amp after it arced 600vdc. Too close for comfort. I'm thinking it was a spider or cobweb on the pcb board; but that was enough. SS is easier. However, I still have my VTA SP12/PH14 Pre with some 'killer' NOS tubes and have used it with many speakers. I'm currently using it with a pair of MicroAcoustic FRMA-1 that I restored. Great match even with my 45wpc (80wpc 4ohm) A100 headphone amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio AR Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 I usually use a Ming Da MC-7R with AR91... perfect sound, but very great in clarity all low frequences, same in use with AR3a and AR LST. Tubes top in preamp.: 2 x 12AX7 Telefunken, 2 x 12AU7 Philips, 1 x 5AR4 Mullard, makes greath upgraded! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankmarsi Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 I’m wondering what sort of budget is planned for the pre-amp. My past experience is from many years ago in 1974 to be exact when I purchased my first high-power amp, a Phase Linear 400 and using my only pre-amp, a Dynaco PAS-3X it all sounded excellent with my AR-3a’s. That pre-amp was tube and it naturally emitted a fair amount of tube-hiss. Therefore it necessitated I roll back the treble controls a touch past the flat setting more than I already had positioned it. So, because of that, I then had to listen to music to a slightly less realistic degree because of that hiss I had to lose some high frequencies, not cool. I wasn’t able to tolerate the tube noise/hiss I was getting plus, I wanted to experience the ‘NEW’ transistor components that were newly being born in those days. Fast-forward to later that year and I purchased a Phase Linear 4000 pre-amp. Good-bye tube-hiss/noise and hello, quiet backgrounds additional aided by Phase Linear’s noise-reduction circuitry and I was set for years to come. If you’re in the process of deciding which pre-amp to purchase, I’d keep in mind its specs and how it will perform with your input sources before buying. If you intend to regularly use vinyl which is a high-level source then, the quietest pre-amp you’re looking at is the one to consider. Reality sets in when such decisions of money versus performance are made so, do the research before taking the plunge. FM 43 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shacky Posted September 15, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 Good points Frank! I have an Eico HF-81 that obviously can’t drive AR’s but sounds so sweet through Dynaco A25 or my Klipsch Fortes. best of both worlds may be a reach. perhaps a step up from my NAD in SS would be quiet and fuller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meta_noia_fot Posted September 15, 2022 Report Share Posted September 15, 2022 A little off-topic, but I'm using a Luxman LV-105u hybrid integrated amplifier to drive my 9's. This amp uses 2x6CG7 tubes in the amp (not pre-amp) section. These amps are kind of looked down on since they're from the BPC Alpine era of Luxman. But the amp delivers 170W into 4 ohms and has powered the 9's without any problem. I usually see these amps list for around $450. I think they're a good budget option if someone wants to power 9's and wants a touch of tube sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shacky Posted September 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2022 Sounds like a nice amp! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted September 16, 2022 Report Share Posted September 16, 2022 My VTA ST-120 had 60wpc in pentode mode and would drive the 9s but not very loud. Output tubes were 6550 and KT88. Driver tubes were (2) 12AU7 and (1) 12BH7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimpy Posted September 19, 2022 Report Share Posted September 19, 2022 I use an original generation Schiit Audio Saga tube preamp. Great features, with multiple inputs and outputs, switchable between tube, SS buffer, or passive outputs. Relay switched volume control too. Plus, I swapped the Wima coupling capacitors for Mundorf Evo Oils, bypassed with AudioCap Theta caps. Oh, it uses a single 6SN7 tube. Very musical, with a wide and deep soundstage. All through AR58S speakers. Saga+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarlocho Posted September 30 Report Share Posted September 30 Hi, I am responding to an old thread because I am a new owner of some AR-9s as of last week and have tried them with tube preamps. I'm a novice compared to most on this forum, but I can contribute my limited experience to this topic. Since getting my nines I've used the following preamps Integrated Sansui 717 The following with a Sunfire Grand Cinema for a power amp: NAD 1155 Dynaco PAS 3x Van Alstine Super PAS 4i tube hybrid. The Sanssui integrated sounded good, but I moved on quickly because the power is not what I have read on CSP as what is recommended for the 9s The NAD sounded a little thin. And I thought I was hearing some harshness from the Sunfire. That could have been from the NAD, I suppose. I put the PAS 3x in next and got all the tube magic. I didn't notice the harshness anymore, but it was a little less clear or resolving than the NAD. Now I have on loan from my local record shop the Super pas 4i tube hybrid, and I find it very nice indeed. I believe I will buy it. Much clearer than the pas3 but not quite as full at low volumes It has no tone or loudness controls. At moderate volumes and above it's very nice and has the tube magic, at least for me, with great airiness and space but resolving and clear enough to really let the 9s show me the detail and clarity they have over my other ARs. (AR-5, 4x, 2ax). Like I said, I just got my AR9s two weeks ago. But that is my take on using a tube and tube high-bid preamp with the AR9s. I hope to purchase this Super Pas 4i and then replace the Sunfire amp for my power section. I'll be asking for suggestions for power amps and have read alot already. Then, I'll be seeking expert advice on a couple of issues with my new AR 9s. I'll try to find the correct thread to ask those in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted September 30 Report Share Posted September 30 Congrats on your 9s. Its a great speaker. I have both tube gear and solid state. I used to run my 10Pi on the tube gear and my 91s on the SS. The big difference was the bass sound. Since tube gear has very low damping factor (<10 for me) and SS gear typically has very high damping (>500); the tube bass was 'wooly' as if a blanket was over the speaker and the SS bass sound was very 'tight' and well defined. I have since sold my tube amp but kept the tube Preamp. Using the tube Pre with a SS solves that wooly issue and keeps the tube twinkle (some what). Having a good current pushing amp with ample wattage will enable the 9s to shine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarlocho Posted October 1 Report Share Posted October 1 Thanks, DavidR, I have a pair of Dynaco MRK III I use with My PAS 3x and the my AR5s. That's a pretty sweet combo for me. It will be hard to not at least try the MRK IIIs with the 9s. I dream of having four and quad amping the nines. Do you have any recommendations on tube pre-SS power combos and preserving the tube magic with your 91s? What tube preamp do you use? The Super Pas 4i seems to be doing the job okay for me, but only after I ditched my SS movie phono stage for the phono stage in the 4i. Interestingly, I preferred the movie phono to the phono stage in my past 3x. I know the Sunfire Grand Cenema I'm using is a powerful amp, but I'm not sure it's current pushing amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted October 1 Report Share Posted October 1 I had a Bob Latino/VTA ST-120 amp. My biggest boost to tube bloom/twinkle was running a 1957 TungSol 12BH7 tube in the center driver tube position. My Pre is a VTA with a SP12 and PH14 Phono board. The Preamp board has RCA 5963 military tubes in position 1 and RCA JRC 5814A military for position 2. The Phono has a Sylvania 12AD7, Amperex Bugle Boy 12AX7 and Sylvania JHS 5751 military tube. (jazz on vinyl never sounded better) I tend to prefer the military tubes because of the extra stiffeners and I prefer the black plate tubes with square or D shaped getters with a foil or element strip. Currently, I use an Emotiva A100 Headphone amp to drive the speakers 40 watts onto 8 ohms and 80watts into 4 ohm. It is a very nice sounding headphone amp. I used to run Carver amps; the modified ones, until I had a transistor on one 'let go'. The Grand Cinema might be a current pusher. It is newer than the Carver brand amps which were not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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