A great tube preamp will produce enough of a gain at the front of a circuit. It can clean and improve signals from microphones or other items plugged into it. It won�t be too hard to get a tube preamp to work for your needs but you will have to shop around to see what choices are available.
The good news is that you won�t have to look too far to find the best tube preamp for your needs. I have gathered three of the best options for you to have when it comes to finding one. Here�s a look at how these three attractive models work for your demands.
Best Tube Preamp Under 1000
Pro-ject Audio Tube Box S
Features:
[su_list icon=”icon: check-circle” icon_color=”#1e8ef3″]
- Two ECC83 vacuum tubes are all this needs to start working. It controls a dual mono setup for a simple connection system.
- There are three gain levels used on this. They can be adjusted through the simple control buttons on the preamp body.
- The input impedance and capacitance can be switched in real time. This is another feature found on the box.
- RIAA equalization is used to manage how sounds are processed. It analyzes the bass, treble and other qualities and prepares appropriate settings for each. This is to create a stronger total setup on the preamp so it�s not hard to produce clearer sounds.
[/su_list]
[amazon_link asins=’B01LXARXSN’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’audiobeast-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’2d980a48-d867-11e8-bb9c-777f7ba8147a’]
Pros:
[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4cf31e”]
- I think this is one of the best tube preamp choices for how it uses a simple user interface that isn�t complex and harsh.
- The unit responds quickly to change in the controls as well.
- It is a little less than two pounds so it�s not hard for me to place on any spot where it is needed.
- The sound projected by this is especially warm but it doesn�t generate more static or distortion than what I can afford to have.
[/su_list]
Cons:
[su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=”#f31e29″]
- Whether or not this will work depends heavily on how wires are organized around it. It is very easy for a hum to develop when the wiring connected to it is not grounded.
- The unit is extremely sensitive to this. It is also tough to maintain the tubes on this due to the shielding over them being rather tough to handle.
[/su_list]
Nobsound NS-01P Tube Pre-Amp
Features:
[su_list icon=”icon: check-circle” icon_color=”#1e66f3″]
- This Nobsound model uses a 12AX7 amplifier to enhance how the sound is generated. It offers a low output resistance to create a stronger total sound.
- The WIMA high voltage capacitor is designed with a strong body that manages how signals run. This keeps the signal from a connection consistent without the risk of anything being lost.
- The 6Z4 tube rectifier is applied here to manage higher levels of pressure. This prevents distortion from developing and is simple enough for most uses.
[/su_list]
[amazon_link asins=’B00LUCZLZQ’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’audiobeast-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’47373605-ea6f-11e8-a50d-8b9ae593611a’]
Pros:
[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#48f31e”]
- My favorite part of this is that the sounds coming out of the pre-amp are not too intense or muted.
- They are carefully projected to work well and clean.
- The preamp is smooth enough to generate cleaner backgrounds to create a more immersive sound experience.
- The unit does not vibrate much and generates clear signals consistently. It does not take much for me to get this to start up either
[/su_list]
Cons:
[su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=”#f31f1e”]
- I found the AX7 tubes to be a little too sensitive for their own good. I had to replace them with 12AU7 tubes to make it easier to control the volume. Fortunately, it only took a brief moment for me to actually replace them.
- This can create some intense humming effects depending on how high up the volume knob is turned.
[/su_list]
Little Dot MK2 6J1
Features:
[su_list icon=”icon: check-circle” icon_color=”#1e68f3″]
- The left and right input and output ports on the back part are clearly labeled. These are gold-plated and balanced to work with RCA connections.
- The frequency response runs from 20 Hz to 50 kHz. It works with very little distortion.
- The gain feature is versatile. It offers a 3 to 10x gain although separate switches may be applied if needed.
- A gold-plated stereo headphone out is used at the front of the preamp. It creates a secure connection that conducts energy well. The volume knob next to it is also easy to adjust and use.
- It works with a vast variety of connections including the 6J1, M8100 and EF95 links. When the jumper pins are shorted, the EF92 and CV131 connections can be added. Other drop-in replacements can also be supported on this unit to establish a carefully organized and secured link for all items on it.
[/su_list]
[amazon_link asins=’B00A2QMAI2′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’audiobeast-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’af4f81b4-ea70-11e8-96d0-ddf8497c00a6′]
Pros:
[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#34f31e”]
- This is one of the best tube preamp choices for how it offers enough power to handle a variety of devices without any distortion.
- My favorite part of this came from how it uses a strong control scheme for most headphones and microphones.
- The bass sounds are clean and entail no added noise issues. The balance is even with smooth sounds all the way. I don�t even have to replace the tubes to make it work.
- The versatility of this model is a real plus as it gives me added support for linking more items onto the preamp.
[/su_list]
Cons:
[su_list icon=”icon: ban” icon_color=”#f31e22″]
- This takes a bit of time to warm up. I have to let it run for a few minutes before it really starts to pick up signals.
- Also, I have to shut it off every four to six hours to let it cool off. I have to wait for nearly an hour before I can turn it back on in most cases
[/su_list]
How to Create your own Tube Preamp
Conclusion
My favorite of the three tube preamps listed here is the Little Dot MK2. This choice is a better option for how it offers a more control setup that carefully handles how well sounds are produced.
It can support a better variety of connections and produce clearer sounds. The control setup is simple and easy to follow. The gold-plated connections also ensure that I will have a consistent connection on anything I am using. This is an ideal choice that simplifies how well I can get more sounds produced on it with ease.