[19lexicon78]

hi,

i'm looking for an (pre)-amp to connect xlr components; cd,tape,minidisc,TT etc

which ones are recommended, or perhaps someone knows a link to pro-gear website which discusses xlr-amps.

greets,
stan

 

[883dave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19lexicon78 /img/forum/go_quote.gif hi, i'm looking for an (pre)-amp to connect xlr components; cd,tape,minidisc,TT etc which ones are recommended, or perhaps someone knows a link to pro-gear website which discusses xlr-amps. greets, stan

Does it need to be fully balanced?

SS or Tube?

Price range?

New or used?

At present I use a Sonic Frontiers Line 3, this is a fully balanced tube phono that was made up until 2003 +/-, used for $2000 +/-.

 

[19lexicon78]

yes,
fully balanced, so i can plug all the xlr components on the same amp.
no tube amp, these things are expensive.
i'm thinking buying used pro-gear.

 

[slowth]

I think you could try out presonus or tc electronics for stuff..

 

[sejarzo]

What sort of turntable has XLR outputs?

 

[19lexicon78]

TT = emt

haven't got one, but it will be someday...

 

[tom hankins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sejarzo /img/forum/go_quote.gif What sort of turntable has XLR outputs?

VPI does.
But it really doesnt matter which turntable. Its the outputs on the phonostage that go into the preamp. Which there are a ton of them that have balanced outputs.

 

[grawk]

For balanced gear, the best bets are the DIY designs. The beta 22, the m-3, and the dynamight. You can commission one of the resident builders to make one that meets your needs and get a significantly better amp than anything from a commercial builder, imho.

I had a m3 built with 4 inputs, 4 gain options, and cinemag transformers for impedance matching and balancing unbalanced inputs for significantly less than anything I've seen that comes close on the commercial market. The tradeoff on a build like this is time.

 

[19lexicon78]

grawk,

which one is best and who builds them?
what about studer amps?

 

[grawk]

I don't know anything about studer amps.


As to which is best, that's all personal preference isn't it?

I know thrice (rockhopperaudio.com) has been known to build balanced amps for hire. sft (google sft audio) has built balanced m3s and dynamights. Justin Wilson (headamp) has a great balanced amp/preamp called the GS-X. I'd bet that jbloudg20 would build you a beta22 or a balanced m3.

 

[19lexicon78]

i think those amps will be expensive.
i prefer used gear for a couple of $$$

 

[slwiser]

Or you could have one XLR input and have someone build you a XLR line router like shown on the Mapletree web site or like the line router I had built but with RCA by Art Taylor at this web link: page6 which is a very high quality unit.

 

[19lexicon78]

perhaps some sort of mixing console

eg, inputs look like this

Studer Mischpult 961 / 962 externes Anschlussterminal bei eBay.de: Mischpulte (endet 13.03.08 15:46:10 MEZ)

perhaps with some power-amps??

ACOUSTA P100 *Mixer *STUDER 169 *SSL ++++* bei eBay.de: Mischpulte (endet 10.03.08 21:01:54 MEZ)