I have a BHK preamp on 30-day trial. Thinking of getting a McIntosh C8 tube preamp for comparison. Has anyone already done this? What did you think?
If you want your jaw to drop, compare with a Conrad Johnson GAT-S2 preamp. I bought one used. One of the best audio decisions I have made.
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For nearly $24,000, the GAT-S2 should be spectacular. (The C8 is $4,000.)
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Yes, but they are 1/3 the price on the used market.
I recently purchased a Primaluna Evo 400 tube preamp. The sound is spectacular in my system. I highly recommend you investigate this option which can be had used for around $3500.
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They depreciate to only 1/3 their value, even as a current production unit? Ouch.
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They are no longer offered new. The GAT preamp has been replaced by the Art88 preamp.
The used market is a nice place to get great audio gear. I cannot afford a new $24k preamp or a new $25k power amp, yet I have both 
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Thanks for your reply. I’ve looked into PrimaLuna, and they seem to have good stuff. Unfortunately, the 400 weighs over 50 pounds, which is more than I can lift. I try to limit new gear to around 30 pounds. After all, I’m almost as old as Paul.
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Thank you for the information.
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That is what friends are for, the heavy lift(s).
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If you start working out now you can lift it in a month.
Hi, everyone. I’m new here, so I’m not sure whether it’s OK to reply to my own post. But since no one addressed the question that I asked, I’m doing it.
I got a McIntosh C8 tube preamp for a 30-day trial from ListenUp. After about 50 hours of break-in, I started doing serious listening.
I was mostly pleased with the sound of the C8. My main criticism is that, in my system, the bass is a bit flabby and un-tuneful. I don’t like the input-selector and volume knobs, which have no feel to them at all.
The C8’s built-in MC phono preamp sounds very good, but not as good as my Sutherland 20/20. You can change the cartridge loading by remote control, like the Stellar Phono Preamp. A great feature!
To summarize, the BHK sound is better than the C8 in every way. And it has that BHK magic and that wonderful soundstage. The C8 goes back to ListenUp next week.
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The fun part of being an audiophile. Congrats! Others on different forums would ask if you did the comparisons while blindfolded, and if not, they would imply that invalidates the differences you heard, lol.
Nothing better than knowing firsthand the sound differences between components in your system.
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Thanks! That’s a wonderful update and it made my morning.
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