kevinmi Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 I'm wanting to replace my McIntosh C-39 SS pre with a tube pre to drive my Latino ST120 tube amp. right now I'm looking at used Rogue Audio, Cary, ARC, Conrad-Johnson, etc. Anybody got suggestions/recommendations? I would also like to have a tube phono stage and remote. I might go with a seperate phono stage, so I would like advice on a good tube phono preamp as well. Also-I'm willing to trade my McIntosh C-39 and 2125 amp for tube stuff if anyone is interested. Thanks, Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhoak Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 I know where there's a very nice Juicy Music Merlin for $600. Add http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preaphon&1264285089&/Juicy-Music-Tercel-(original-/ and you're golden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 That listing is actually for the JM Tercel, the phono stage, not the Merlin. Great phono stage however. I have tried a number of tube preamps - Cary( cant remember the number off hand), Macintosh c-22,and others. For the money you would be hard pressed to beat the Merlin ( if you canfind one) or the Peach (again if yo can find one) for a line stage. The Tercel phono is nice. If you find a blueberry You would get the phono included. I have been playing back and forth with my Wright wpp100 phono and the phono in the BBX. Both are really good but with the cartidge I am currently using I think I prefer the Wright. But not by a huge margin. Again for the dough, any of Juicy Music's preamps have to be considered a "very best Buy" Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo33 Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Try the Dynaco VTA SP-6 Preamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk49 Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 I have a JM BlueBerry Xtreme with the Cream looking for a new home. I have 2 Merlins and don't need the phono sections in the BBX. Email me if you're interested. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 If you are in Flint Michigan there is a guy pretty close to you that knows a thing or two about tubes and amps. He may be able to help you out. He also has a nice pair of monoblocks based on the Dynaco Mark III's that he may let you listen to along with his Blueberry preamp. He ain't too bad with old Scott equipment neither. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 As a matter of fact that guy in Michigan is doing some mods on m Merlin as we speak. And yes he does know a fair bit about tube stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blvdre Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 That listing is actually for the JM Tercel, the phono stage, not the Merlin. Great phono stage however. I have tried a number of tube preamps - Cary( cant remember the number off hand), Macintosh c-22,and others. For the money you would be hard pressed to beat the Merlin ( if you canfind one) or the Peach (again if yo can find one) for a line stage. The Tercel phono is nice. If you find a blueberry You would get the phono included. I have been playing back and forth with my Wright wpp100 phono and the phono in the BBX. Both are really good but with the cartidge I am currently using I think I prefer the Wright. But not by a huge margin. Again for the dough, any of Juicy Music's preamps have to be considered a "very best Buy" Josh If you read carefully, jhoak prefaced the link with "add", meaning just add the tercel to the merlin, and you're good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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