Best sounding linestage/buffer topology?

[markusA]

I'd like to just toss it out there, what is the best sounding topology for a linestage or a buffer? Do I need to mention that we're in the tubes forum...
Anything goes, just share your favourites and hopefulle we can get a discussion going about the pro's and cons.

Myself I'm a n0ob and although I'm in the middle of some experiments of my own I don't have the experience to actually form an opinion of my own. (Not yet anywho.)

[Skorpio]

SYclotron Audio The Heretical Preamp

[DF96]

Best buffer is none, except where one is actually needed.

[tinitus]

Originally Posted by DF96

Best buffer is none, except where one is actually needed.

shoot, even the tube man Broskie is confused about whether to prefer his passive 'pre' or own tube buffer

[pinkmouse]

Originally Posted by Skorpio

SYclotron Audio The Heretical Preamp

+1

Still in my main system when just about every other component has changed once or twice. 'Nuf said

[markusA]

I've tried passive and although it did sound great it was somewhat lacking in the LF.
It would seem a buffer or proper linestage is my best option but I have used a fixed resistor attenuator before with great success.

Interesting to see that the SYclotron is so well regarded.

[Rod Coleman]

To keep the list short, please consider what the Linestage needs to do.

- Drive long cables? If it does, then passive solutions, or stages with high output impedance will give poor performance. In the valve world, this means avoiding ECC83/12AX7 stages and the like. ECC88 stages, and better still, transformer output (Cow-out) stages are higher cost, but deliver the goods when the power amp has low input impedance, or is reached by long cable.

- Do you need gain? This question is related to the long-cable question, since it is easier to get low output impedance (with valves) if the gain is 1 or near to it.

- Cost? Really excellent linestage with low output impedance will need high quality power and output transformers, and probably directly heated triodes (depending on taste priorities). If you only have a junk box budget, look at TV triodes - some can be arranged to give quite low output impedance... best known is the ECC88 twin triode, but there are many others that can work very well, if you are patient with design work.

But this is a valve/tube DIY position, so before deciding, please read about the #26 linestage... it is at or near to the top performer in any comparison, and all you need to know to build a fine stage is there:

#26 pre amp

[Joshua_G]

I'd assume the best sounding line stage is probably one of the late Allen Wright designs, either FVP5A, or RTP3C: Schematics .

[Joshua_G]

On a second thought, Salas 6V6 Line Preamp should also be an excellent sounding one: 6V6 line preamp .

[Tony]

so far a 6H23 line stage configures as a common cathode/cathode follower seems to be well liked by those who heard it......i have tried it on a 4KN8, 7DJ8, 5BK7 with good results...

i have yet to try other topologies like SRPP or Aikido, maybe later....