Tír Na HiFi

looking for a cheap pre...i think mine is not great, valves might be going or something...and would like to make up my mind.even better would be if someone could borrow one for a few days....thanks

did you try new valves?

not yet i want to find out if i need new valves first....with the normal power amps it sounds ok but tried it with another amp and it sounded really bad...also every now and than it will start makeing this noise but if i turn if off and on again it goes away...it happens about 5min from turning on about 1 in 5 times i listen to it.really dont have a clue first valve amp....

Well, what kind of valves are they? Someone here might have some they could lend you...

Second, it'd be no harm to take out the valves and clean the pins, and then put them in and out a few times to clean the valve sockets a bit.


Fran

If not I've a couple of pre's you could borrow for a bit - DIY'ed music angel, Yaqin MS-12 and a DIY'ed NAC 62. What is your current pre? I also have a few valves floating around. I'm in D4.

Richard

i have an antique sound lab aq-2004 and the valves are 12AX7 x 1, 12AU7 x 2...i would happily take you on your offer to borrow a pre from you...i work in the city center maybe we could arrange to meet.could i also bring you my pre to have a look?

There are varied reviews of the AQ2004 - seems a not very well executed design. However, if it is still running the original Chinese tubes then it is definitely worth trying some better ones.

I work at Citi in the IFSC, and can arrange to take one of my pre-amps in to the office with me. Do you need line level only? Probably best to try the Music Angel - it was pretty good to start with for the price (£85 on eBay), but then really improved when I did some DIY on it with PSU changes, better quality components and rewiring with a proper star earth scheme.

Richard