Hi everyone, I would like to buy a valve preamp without spending too much to combine occasionally with my 300dr. I currently use the 252/scdr, everything is wonderful, but I want to try which one would be the best for Naim. I await your opinions, do you recommend?
Tks
Gustavo
What is your budget ?
I know 4 that can match the 300 dr. I have an Ear 912 , used before with a 250 dr, NC 250 and 300 dr. But hard to find on a second hand market.
An Ear Yoshino 868 would be great too.
You have also Manley and Nagra which will work very well.
The problem is that neither are cheap. Maybe at least 4k for a 868, second hand.
Thanks, French. I remember you owned the Naim
Pre-Ear 912, which I’m in love with.
I just want to try it and understand what happens in
my setup, because if I like it, then I’ll buy the
912, which also has a nice phono stage, and I’m selling the 252/scdr. There’s also the Lamm preamp, which is very good.
Thanks
I understand you, I had the 252 non dr before, replaced by the 912.
The phono is really excellent. The Ear added textures, nuances and refinement. And is probably more dynamic vs the 252 dr.
You need to modify the cables too or order two RCA to DIN / XLR ( not XLR).
I have my 912 since 2010, serviced in 2020 by Ear, for about 120 euros.
Nos Mullard tubes too.
The Lamm L2 reference was in my radar, with additional Lp2 phono. Would love to have it. But the combo is more expensive and I couldn’t try with Naim.
Another great contender, but the prices raised a lot : CAT Renaissance, with superb phono too.
My dream: VAC.
Yes Vac preamplifier are the top Signature and master preamplifier anyway I’m not wrong if I take a good tube preamp with nap 300dr
I prefer a good preamp but I’m a bit lazy with the remote control
All tubes won’t work correctly or optimally. For instance Conrad Johnson. So be careful.
Yes I know I only see Ear yoshino, Lamm, Audioeresearch and Cat
I used a valve pre with my 300DR up until recently, a Manley Labs Neo-Classic 300B. An amazing pre with an addictive, want-to-keep-on-listening midrange, solid build and reference-level headphone stage. The stock valves are not great, however and it responds very well to rolling your own which is vital in getting the best out of it so put aside 20% + of the budget to getting some good NOS valves and something like Sophia Electric or Western Electric for the 300Bs.
Now as for whether the 300DR mates well electrically with a valve pre, while I didn’t have any real issues I did read that bass can be limited when using a valve pre with a solid state amp. The combo produced great bass for me but I did notice when I swapped the Manley for my solid-state Esoteric pre recently the bass slam, impact and depth improved dramatically. Now is this because the 300Dr preferred being paired with a solid state pre or is my Esoteric simply that much better? Unclear. Perhaps a valve pre on the level of my Esoteric would produce bass on a similar level but without having one on hand it’s impossible to know.
Anyhoo, caveat aside I highly recommend the Manley.
What esoteric model? But did you previously have the
Nac 252 with SCDR? What speakers do you use?
Ciao
I’m pretty sure Esoteric and not so much esoteric 
From his profile, the Esoteric Grandioso C1X Solo
Audio Research, VAC, Aesthetix Audio. All good stuff!
I found Aesthetics nice sounding, but a bit dull.
Also BAT are good pre
Never heard
Not my experience, and not the experience of lots of reviewers. But we all listen and differently. We all hear differently.
I heard only the Calypso SE with the power amp, 10 years ago.
Esoteric Grandioso C1X Solo. I never used a NAC 252 as I added the 300 DR long after getting the Manley in the first place. I know someone who has a 252/250 system and while it’s not a 1-to-1 comparison the Manley is a lot more musical and liquid sounding.
A couple of weeks ago I plugged in my EAR834 line stage, which i usually use in my nearfield system; thoroughly enjoyed it. But, it has no remote control, and for playlists I feel one is needed.
I owned an EAR868 for many years, which I also thought was good; but, a friend was selling his Modwright LS36.5 for what I thought was a rather good price. I am enjoying this more, although my system has changed so not a true comparison, not to mention the haziness of audio memory.
The 36.5 has AV bypass, when the amp is turned off. The sound quality is excellent, and the 36.5 / 300DR / SBL combo is pretty addictive.