Tube pre amp $1000.00 or less

[engtaz]

I am looking into getting a Tube pre amp in the sub $1000.00 range. Would like recommendations and links.

Thanks,
engtaz

 

[jamie2112]

I have one for sale right now for 600. Pm me and I will send you pics...

 

[jamie2112]

This is a nice one for the price as well:http://www.pacificvalve.us/Classic90.html

 

[WmAx]

I am looking into getting a Tube pre amp in the sub $1000.00 range. Would like recommendations and links.

Thanks,
engtaz

If you are looking for tube distortion coloration, there is a much better option than buying a pre-amp with fixed tube stages. You can purchase a pro-audio tube pre-amp that allows you to mix the clean signal with tube saturation from none to high levels, with the turn of a dial. This allows you to specifically control the amount of coloration instead of being stuck with a fixed level. You would connect this to the output of your solid state pre-amp before the amplifier. If you are interested, I'll link an example.

-Chris

 

[jamie2112]

If you are looking for tube distortion coloration, there is a much better option than buying a pre-amp with fixed tube stages. You can purchase a pro-audio tube pre-amp that allows you to mix the clean signal with tube saturation from none to high levels, with the turn of a dial. This allows you to specifically control the amount of coloration instead of being stuck with a fixed level. You would connect this to the output of your solid state pre-amp before the amplifier. If you are interested, I'll link an example.

-Chris

There's an idea I have not thought of before. I have 2 Neve's and 2 API's that I might just hook up and try now. Thanks Chris..

 

[mazersteven]

Jolida
www.jolida.com

http://www.jolida.com/catalogue/components.shtml

http://www.jolida.com/catalogue/tubeamp.shtml

 

[engtaz]

If you are looking for tube distortion coloration, there is a much better option than buying a pre-amp with fixed tube stages. You can purchase a pro-audio tube pre-amp that allows you to mix the clean signal with tube saturation from none to high levels, with the turn of a dial. This allows you to specifically control the amount of coloration instead of being stuck with a fixed level. You would connect this to the output of your solid state pre-amp before the amplifier. If you are interested, I'll link an example.

-Chris

Link would be appreciated. I have heard SS tube emulation and tubes pre's and tube amps. True tube sound is hard to emulate but I try to always keep and open mind.

Thanks,
engtaz

 

[WmAx]

Link would be appreciated. I have heard SS tube emulation and tubes pre's and tube amps. True tube sound is hard to emulate but I try to always keep and open mind.

Thanks,
engtaz

The unit I would suggest is not an emulator. It uses a pair of 12ax7 tubes. It is a 'real' tube pre-amp. It simply lets you adjust the amount of tube saturation as it was meant for professional use.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHT1953

BTW, it has been recommended to change out the tubes to a higher quality model to lower the noise floor and improve the harmonic structure of the tube saturation.

And yes, tubes are hard to emulate because existing DSP modelers, at least most of them, appear to not consider the dynamic saturation behavoir of a real tube, and instead model a static saturation condition. The only DSP modeller I have come across that models tubes accurately is a couple guitar processing units from Digitech: specifically the GNX3000 and the GSP1101.

-Chris

 

[mike c]

The unit I would suggest is not an emulator. It uses a pair of 12ax7 tubes.

And yes, tubes are hard to emulate because existing DSP modelers, at least most of them, appear to not consider the dynamic saturation behavoir of a real tube, and instead model a static saturation condition. The only DSP modeller I have come across that models tubes accurately is a couple guitar processing units from Digitech: specifically the GNX3000 and the GSP1101.

-Chris

do the tubes in the units you are suggesting require regular replacement?

 

[WmAx]

do the tubes in the units you are suggesting require regular replacement?

Like any tube in a pre-amp, it will wear after years of constant use. I have since added a link to the pre-amp above. Also, it may be desirable to change out the stock tubes.

I plan on buying one myself pretty soon for experimentation purposes.

-Chris

 

[fmw]

Chris's suggestion is excellent. You can buy one of the several mic preamps from ART, as an example and use it as a "powered buffer" to add and adjust harmonic distortion to the audio chain. These units run from $50 or so up to a few hundred. I have an ART tube preamp that even provides a control for input impedance. That can change the audio tone as well. I've never tried the concept because I don't value harmonic distortion in my playback but it should work fine for those that do.