Best Valve pre-amp match for ME 550 amp

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Originally Posted by MrRogers

The finest Australian made valve preamplifiers are made by Elson Silva from Cymer.

If you don't want an ME25 your second best choice is a Cymer.

What is the output impedance of the Cymer? Much more than 100 Ohms and it will be hopelessly inadequate. Much less than 10 Ohms and it will be fine.

[MrRogers]

About 1200, I think.

[TigerScent]

...sounds like I am going to have to audition the ME25..., after hearing that valve preamp buffer - its motivating me to audition the ME25 preamp - after hearing the greater potential of the ME550 with the valve preamp -

[MrRogers]

Tiger, why not make your life a little easier by getting an ME25 for your ME550 or swapping your ME550 for an ME50 / ME75 and a valve preamp of your choice?

You'll be much happier with that combination and you'll get Zaphod's approval. Deal?

[TigerScent]

Originally Posted by MrRogers

Tiger, why not make your life a little easier by getting an ME25 for your ME550 or swapping your ME550 for an ME50 / ME75 and a valve preamp of your choice?

You'll be much happier with that combination and you'll get Zaphod's approval. Deal?

Its unfortunate that our friend Zaphod is getting somewhat anxious by this whole affair, which in fact is a pioneering spirit destined to be initiated 'outside the square' of convention..., and was not forseen in its inception of having the potential to create what appears to be severe 'angst' to our friend Zaphod.

I did rather enjoy the valve preamp sound from that very 'budget' buffer amp tho, however I do suspect that the ME25 will sound better. I will just have to audition it and hear for myself...The ME550 is rather good I must say, and I have not played it, only once or twice, since I had it refurbished and modified to be more like an upgraded model by Peter Stein.

The valve buffer does its magic in the NAD T773 rather well though, transparancy and soundstage is quite good and clear, the ME550 just does it better...

[TigerScent]

Just tried using the NAD T773 (front-main stereo channel) pre-amp connected to Guanzo Valve Buffer and ME550. LP disc sounds crisp, clear and detailed - very CD like - in fact it sounds more like a CD - than a CD - in terms of detail and dynamic crisp presence etc... like a boron, ruby or diamond cantelever feel to it...

I did modify a few things tho on the first valve buffer which is what I used this time

Be interesting to compare with ME25 ..., I imagine it would reveal a more airy soundstage with dynamic realism and inky black background silence ... hmmmmm

[TigerScent]

...on playing a few LP's, some sound amazing, others sound tinny - odd : I need to look into this more deeply...Its become quite an issue now...What could be causing the variation?

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Originally Posted by TigerScent

...on playing a few LP's, some sound amazing, others sound tinny - odd : I need to look into this more deeply...Its become quite an issue now...What could be causing the variation?

The ME550 is completely accurate. In computer parlance: GIGO. (Garbage In, Garbage Out)

[lordearl]

Perhaps changing the buffer/preamp too frequently? Either that or schizophrenia.....

[TigerScent]

...must be the recordings...; or because of the variation in impedance, could some sounds/frequencies be more dominant than others?

...well, I have to be honest with my observations --- and they were two effects when combining the NAD T773 pre-amp with valve buffer with different LP's.

...anyway, just very loose experimentation while awaiting the ME25, and valve pre-amp kits to arrive and be put together and auditioned with transformer coupling to lower impedance and compare. The valve buffer on its own was still a very interesting result. Its early days yet for a defined conclusion.