Poll: World's Best Tube Pre?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mark4man
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mark4man

mark4man

MoonMix Studios
What's the world's best tube-based preamplifier; & why?

Aphex 1100MKII
Avalon AD-2022
Drawmer 1962
DW Fearn VT2
M.A.L. REDD.47
Manley Mono
Millenia M2-B
Mindprint DTC
Pendulum MDP-1
Sebatron VMP-2000e
SPL GoldMike 9844
Summit Audio TPA-200B
Telefunken V72
Tube Tech MP-1A
Universal Audio 2-610

If I've left anything out...feel free to add to the list (or...if you want to throw anything out, go ahead.)

Thanks,

mark4man

BTW - Use? Primarily vox to digital or tape.
 
My vote goes to the Pendulum MDP-1a, as a pure pre (plus DI). Versitile, sensual, euphonic. It's what I chose after trying a bunch of high end pres (tube and SS). For vocals, either the Pendulum Quartet or Quartet II are the ticket.
 
Peavey VMP-2! :D

Only because it's the only tube pre I've used.......

edit - it actually is a kick ass pre, and REAL tube
 
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Avalon

I think you're talking about the Avalon VT series, I don't believe the A-D2022 is a tube pre.
 
Cloneboy Studio said:
No votes for the Presonus BlueTube? :)
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The BlueTube would DEFINITELY be my choice! (Especially since I am getting ready to sell one...so I need to make it look good.)
 
I like the GT ViPre alot...But when you get to a certain level of "product" is all a matter of taste!As for use...As always ..it depends on what I'm going for :)


P.S. The Bluetube is KING! :D
 
DW Fearn.....Manley....Pendulum Quartet....Redd 37....the one that sounds the best at the time.
 
Henri Devill said:
I like the GT ViPre alot...But when you get to a certain level of "product" is all a matter of taste!As for use...As always ..it depends on what I'm going for :)
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I agree. "Better" at that level only applies to application. What you need to ask yourself is "What am I looking to accomplish?" Then you find the right tool for the job.

It's kind of like the difference between a claw hammer and a ball-peen. Both are hammers...they just are made for different jobs. (Wow, Harold...that was such a clever analogy...)
 
I have no extensive, real-world handson experience with most of the ones you list.

That said, I have attended a few listening sessions where some of the ones on your list were present, and the DW Fearn really stood out to me.
 
Groove Tubes Vipre



Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Thanks everyone...

Tried to get back into my post to make a few changes, but wasn't permitted to edit, for some reason.

Change:
Avalon VT-737sp

Add:
Groove Tubes Vipre
Peavey VMP-2
TL Audio PA-1

Thanks,

mark4man

Also: Anyone have any experience with the UA 2-610?
 
The UA 2-610 is nice. However, IMHO, I would not put it on par with most of the others you have listed (unless you are going for way "tubey").

I recently purchased one...and then returned it. It was just too colored for me. I ended up getting an A Designs MP-2 (which I would add to your list, by the way...)
 
Dot said:
The BingBong 2000 is the world's best tube pre.

Now you know.
Click to expand...
I want one. I've always wanted one. They're just hard to find... :(
 
It's a better idea to just buy tons of the Behringer ones instead of one super expensive one. Then you can run them all together and get a bajillion toobs put together. Quantity over quality, I always say.
 
Best thing I ever heard or used was a Carvin Quad-X pre-amp.

The thing had 12 valves in it, 4 channels each with it's own FX loop plus, 2 clean, 1 crunch and 1 overdrive, master FX loop, MIDI in and out.

I don't know if they still do them but if you ever see one s/h grab it.
 
Just a different way to answer the question....

I remember a post on some other forum quite a while ago where a very experienced tech estimated that any of the Siemens/Telefunken V-series preamps (V72/V76/V78) would cost in excess of $10k for a single channel if someone tried to exactly replicate them today. (looking inside my V78, I don't doubt it) Does that make them the "best"? I don't know, but certainly the most exclusive when it comes to pricing. For what it's worth.........
 
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