tube preamp reccomendation / opinion about Little Bear P3 from ebay
hi there
as a tube preamp beginner (this would be the first one) i'm asking you the more knowing people than me about an opinion for this preamp ?
6N3 6Z4 Tube Valve Preamp Amplifier Zero Noise with Transformer 110V 220V | eBay
if you have any other reccomendation... my budget for the first preamp is let's say around 100$
my setup is currently NAD326BEE with DALI Concept 2 (modified crossover) so i'm looking for a best bang for the buck really... my wallet is dried out as a student :/
thank you very much for your replies
hi there
as a tube preamp beginner (this would be the first one) i'm asking you the more knowing people than me about an opinion for this preamp ?
6N3 6Z4 Tube Valve Preamp Amplifier Zero Noise with Transformer 110V 220V | eBay
if you have any other reccomendation... my budget for the first preamp is let's say around 100$
my setup is currently NAD326BEE with DALI Concept 2 (modified crossover) so i'm looking for a best bang for the buck really... my wallet is dried out as a student :/
thank you very much for your replies
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My impressions of the Little Bear - Good!
Hi,
I actually bought the Little Bear and sold my Little Dot MK2. There was nothing wrong with the Little Dot, as it was sturdy and well made, but the sound I found to be quite comparable to the Little Bear, which was 1/3 of the price! And the Little Bear also had better gain - for my setup.
I actually did a review of the Little Bear here:
Little Bear Audio Preamplifier - Sweet Valve Music for Under $100! - YouTube
Also have a blog with step by step assembly instructions:
valuehifi.weebly.com
Hope this helps.
Win
Hi,
I actually bought the Little Bear and sold my Little Dot MK2. There was nothing wrong with the Little Dot, as it was sturdy and well made, but the sound I found to be quite comparable to the Little Bear, which was 1/3 of the price! And the Little Bear also had better gain - for my setup.
I actually did a review of the Little Bear here:
Little Bear Audio Preamplifier - Sweet Valve Music for Under $100! - YouTube
Also have a blog with step by step assembly instructions:
valuehifi.weebly.com
Hope this helps.
Win
Most systems don't need a preamp at all.
Be wary of anyone who advertises his circuit as being 'zero noise'. He either knows this is wrong (but still says it) or doesn't know - either option would put me off buying from him!
Be wary of anyone who advertises his circuit as being 'zero noise'. He either knows this is wrong (but still says it) or doesn't know - either option would put me off buying from him!
Well, it sounds good in my system, hence it may sound good with other's systems too. Thanks for your feedback anyway buddy.
Apologies, didn't mean to be disrespectful to DF96.
The point is dhbiker was:
- looking for a preamp
- under $100
And just needed some impressions of this preamp.
I happen to have some first hand experience with this preamp, and so liked it that I made a Youtube video. It completely fills the bill of what dhbiker is looking for - a valve preamp under $100 - and there are not many decent ones of those around.
I get the point that the seller saying 'zero noise' doesn't sound quite right from a technical standpoint, however, practically speaking, when I have this preamp connected to my setup, I literally cannot hear any hiss, hum or any unwanted noise at all.
And as for " Most systems don't need a preamp at all" I would have to disagree with this statement. While it is true that if you have an integrated transistor amp for example, there is 'no need' for you to have a preamp. Very often in the world of audiophiles, it's not so much 'what you need' but how you can enhance or make a system sound different. In my case, I am running a transistor based power amp with NO volume control, therefore I do NEED a preamplifier for the volume control function. Also because my transistor amplifier sounds a certain way, by adding a VALVE preamp, I am completely changing the sound. The sound is warmer, the soundstage is wider, the instrument separation is better - it really does sound like a completely different setup!
Hope this clarifies it further, thanks and peace.
I bought this pre-amp with the GE 5670 tubes and matched it with my Yaqin 5881a tube amplifier and my Big dac with Jensen transformer mod.
The soundstage really opened up and I am quite happy with my purchase.
The soundstage really opened up and I am quite happy with my purchase.
i have it too... but i ordered it back when it was with 6N3 tubes... i have russian 6N3P-EV now.. been thinking about trying those GE 5670 tubes
I bought this about a month ago and I have to say that I am pretty impressed. The only concern that I have is how long it will last? The tubes are too awfully close to the electrolytic capacitors and we all know the hotter it is, the faster the electrolytic capacitors will fail.
I changed the stock 6N3 to JAN GE 5670 and it improved the separation, improved the sound staging and makes listening more enjoyable. Been listening to the 5670 for more than 2 weeks comparing it once in a while to the 6N3, no competition at all.. the 5670 wins. I agree with sdcz..
Two days ago I received an EZ80 to 6Z4 adaptor, which enables me to use my Marconi EZ80 to replace the stock 6Z4 rectifier tube. I was not expecting anything substantial, but it really made a lot of difference: The soundstage width remains the same but the depth is improved; Separation is better, I can very clearly hear now the layering of Sade's voice in "Mr Wrong"; and the instruments sounds more natural.. at least to my ears..
Is there a way to rewire it so that we can use a EZ80 socket instead of the 6Z4?
I changed the stock 6N3 to JAN GE 5670 and it improved the separation, improved the sound staging and makes listening more enjoyable. Been listening to the 5670 for more than 2 weeks comparing it once in a while to the 6N3, no competition at all.. the 5670 wins. I agree with sdcz..
Two days ago I received an EZ80 to 6Z4 adaptor, which enables me to use my Marconi EZ80 to replace the stock 6Z4 rectifier tube. I was not expecting anything substantial, but it really made a lot of difference: The soundstage width remains the same but the depth is improved; Separation is better, I can very clearly hear now the layering of Sade's voice in "Mr Wrong"; and the instruments sounds more natural.. at least to my ears..
Is there a way to rewire it so that we can use a EZ80 socket instead of the 6Z4?
My unit has a problem from day one: I cannot crank up the gain to more than 10 o'clock, distortion sets in and is audible especially in the bass end.. it cracks up. Consulted with the seller and he says it might be that the potentiometer is faulty since the distortion becomes worse when i crank up the gain.. anybody has this problem?
Observation on the Little Bear 2-Tube preamp
This is a different model, but some of the comments apply to the unit in question and other models. Mine is a two tube hybrid preamp, quickly assembled with an external transformer with tubes powering the output. It doesn't matter which you buy from this company, and I mounted everything to a finished mahogany board. The transformer is four inches away and this is good. I put a typical plastic blue electrical housing over it to protect unsuspecting interlopers and I put a different ac plug that I screwed to the board to hold in place (non-electrical area). The other item is the tubes were changed to GE (JAN GE5654W $6.00/EA). The question about noise is there is none that is obvious (turned my amp and preamp most of the way up and listed to the speakers with the phono in the run out groove). There is no noise, no matter what you might think. I have mine set in front of my Cambridge Audio P591 phono preamp and my Marantz Receiver. The affect is more volume to lower my Marantz some and the affect is clean sound that doesn't have the typical edge. I don't care if anyone ever buys one, but mine is extraordinary for an investment of $65 and some TLC.
This is a different model, but some of the comments apply to the unit in question and other models. Mine is a two tube hybrid preamp, quickly assembled with an external transformer with tubes powering the output. It doesn't matter which you buy from this company, and I mounted everything to a finished mahogany board. The transformer is four inches away and this is good. I put a typical plastic blue electrical housing over it to protect unsuspecting interlopers and I put a different ac plug that I screwed to the board to hold in place (non-electrical area). The other item is the tubes were changed to GE (JAN GE5654W $6.00/EA). The question about noise is there is none that is obvious (turned my amp and preamp most of the way up and listed to the speakers with the phono in the run out groove). There is no noise, no matter what you might think. I have mine set in front of my Cambridge Audio P591 phono preamp and my Marantz Receiver. The affect is more volume to lower my Marantz some and the affect is clean sound that doesn't have the typical edge. I don't care if anyone ever buys one, but mine is extraordinary for an investment of $65 and some TLC.
is this the little bear you're referring to?
I'm thinking about getting a preamp to put between my HRT music streamer II DAC and my connex ta3020 amp. would this be a good choice? 6J1 HiFi Stereo Tube Pre Amp Valve Power Audio Preamplifier include Transformer | eBay
For under $100, is there any better options? It doesn't HAVE to be a tube pre... I'm open to whatever is best in the price range.
I'm thinking about getting a preamp to put between my HRT music streamer II DAC and my connex ta3020 amp. would this be a good choice? 6J1 HiFi Stereo Tube Pre Amp Valve Power Audio Preamplifier include Transformer | eBay
For under $100, is there any better options? It doesn't HAVE to be a tube pre... I'm open to whatever is best in the price range.
Hi folks,
I got myself on a of those Little Bear P-3 Preamps with JAN 5670 tubes, now I just replaced them with Russian 6N3P-EV tubes (all late 80's stock 😉).
I play my LB P-3 with Sure TPA3116 D class amp and ES9023 DAC and it plays nice but I have few remarks and questions...
• first of all, gain is too high and pot is not usable as it should be, there are 330kΩ resistors (4 around pot) and pot is cheap 50KΩ linear type. What should I do with them? I plan to put stepped attenuator, but what kind should I put there, maybe 100kΩ LOG type?
• there is a little noise I am getting from it, I suppose it is related to rectification circuit, and I'm also suspecting that plain carbon resistors (I believe that they're of that type in stock config) are not suited for the job, probably I should replace them with metal film type on the signal path. Noise is really apparent with higher volume setting.
• there are 4 "Audiophiler" MKP 1µF 400V signal decoupling caps on the stock P-3, will I benefit by replacing them with ClarityCap 2.2µF PX MKP caps?
BTW, I'll appreciate if someone could post Little Bear P-3 schematic...
TIA
I got myself on a of those Little Bear P-3 Preamps with JAN 5670 tubes, now I just replaced them with Russian 6N3P-EV tubes (all late 80's stock 😉).
I play my LB P-3 with Sure TPA3116 D class amp and ES9023 DAC and it plays nice but I have few remarks and questions...
• first of all, gain is too high and pot is not usable as it should be, there are 330kΩ resistors (4 around pot) and pot is cheap 50KΩ linear type. What should I do with them? I plan to put stepped attenuator, but what kind should I put there, maybe 100kΩ LOG type?
• there is a little noise I am getting from it, I suppose it is related to rectification circuit, and I'm also suspecting that plain carbon resistors (I believe that they're of that type in stock config) are not suited for the job, probably I should replace them with metal film type on the signal path. Noise is really apparent with higher volume setting.
• there are 4 "Audiophiler" MKP 1µF 400V signal decoupling caps on the stock P-3, will I benefit by replacing them with ClarityCap 2.2µF PX MKP caps?
BTW, I'll appreciate if someone could post Little Bear P-3 schematic...
TIA
I am intrigued by these little guys, but I ran across this video on YouTube recently that is a bit disturbing, though it looks like it may be a different model than the one referenced in this thread. Has anyone who has one seen this video and tested theirs?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0WEBGm2f9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0WEBGm2f9s
It is a different model, but I can't play this stupid video. Don't use flash...
What's it all about?
What's it all about?
The preamp in the video works the same whether or not the tube is installed and/or the power is connected. It appears that it is nothing more than a passive attenuator with a tube for decoration.
The Preamplifier I built, diytube.com • View topic - Budgie Preamplifier w/ Arduino - 6/23/14
While not a full kit, you have to source the parts, it is a great performer
While not a full kit, you have to source the parts, it is a great performer
So,
Here it is, a schematic of the P-3, I believe, and a photo of it from above …
Anyone care to help a noob regarding post no. 13: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4250994
Thanks
Here it is, a schematic of the P-3, I believe, and a photo of it from above …
Anyone care to help a noob regarding post no. 13: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4250994
Thanks
The circuit shown in post 18 is a simple balanced SRPP, so it will have voltage gain equal to half the valve mu. In many cases this will be far too much gain. The output impedance will be lowish (for a valve circuit) but possibly still higher than the output impedance of the original source!robertinjo said:
Do you mean noise or hum? Noise could come from an oscillating valve, so try adding grid stoppers. Hum could come from poor heater-cathode insulation (unless it uses DC heaters - I'm not sure).
I suspect that the various Little Bear items are sold as lifestyle choices rather than serious audio items. Use whatever caps make you happy. Audio engineering considerations would suggest that the input cap ought to have a somewhat smaller value, as an LF rolloff at around 1.5Hz could let in a lot of unwanted subsonics.
Note the position of the volume control.
This is one of those "designs" where I have to wonder, "Is this on purpose?"
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