Need Preamp buying advice

[Jose Perez]

Hey guys, I'm splitting up my system into a HT system for the living room and a 2-channel setup for the upstairs. Well I'm all set as far as HT gear goes but I need some advice on a pre for the 2-channel setup.

What I want is a remote pre with a pair of outs. One set will feed the ASL MG Head I just bought from a fellow head-fi'er and the second will feed my NAD PE2200 and on to a set of speakers to be determined later. For a source I'll be using my Yamaha 5CD Carousel for the time being but I'll be shopping for a single CD source soon enough (I'm paying close attention to the "best cd player under $1k" thread). A phono stage isn't necessary but would be a nice option. Same goes with a built-in tuner.

So I'm looking for a preamp that can handle 2-3 sets of inputs and has two sets of outs. I really want it to be remote capable since I am lazy and don't like to get up to change the volume. My budget is $0-300 and I'm in no real hurry.

Another option is selling my PE2200 and picking up a good integrated amp with an additional set of outs to fee my headphone amp. Just an idea.

Anyways, thanks in advance

 

[bifcake]

This is the good news, bad news type of an answer:

The good news is that you don't need a second set of pre-outs for your MGHead. MGHead can be hooked up into the Tape Out on your preamp.

The bad news is that I can't think of a single pre-amp for $300 worth buying. In fact, I'm pressed to think of ANYTHING (receiver, integrated, etc) for this kind of money. I strongly suggest that you rethink your budget.

 

[sleepkyng]

i would reccomend the panasonic digital receivers.

check out the whole digital talk at audiocircle.com, some people are even driving maggies with them.

 

[opeth]

The Creek OBH-12 pre is whithin your budget, has a remote and a tape loop for you headphone amp. However, it is passive so you would need to check how well your power amp handles line-level signals.

It's a very good sounding unit for the price, you'll be much better with it than using a receiver as pre. I replaced my HK DPR1001 with his little unit and never went back. I upgraded to a tube pre now, but the plan for my second system (where I'm using the DPR1001 now) is to add an inexpensive tube linestage/buffer and keep the Creek for the remote control convenience!

 

[Jose Perez]

Well I went ahead and bought a new source instead with the $$ I had and am taking bifcake's advice and rethinking my preamp budget. BTW I bought the silver Cambridge Audio 640c that was in the FS forums last week.

So anyways, I've been looking around online at the various audio forums and review sites and still haven't found the pre I'm after. The more I look the more it seems as though I'm wanting a tube line stage. The Cary units are really nice looking as are the Conrad Johnson units I've seen, but there are a few different Chinese built units that I've seen, but still nothing screams "BUY ME!!!" yet. Any more info you guys can throw my way is definitely appreciatted.

My new budget is in the $750 range but I can be talked into spending a few more $$ if the product justifies the expense. And once again, thanks in advance.

 

[Gopher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepkyng i would reccomend the panasonic digital receivers. check out the whole digital talk at audiocircle.com, some people are even driving maggies with them.

I second this. They really do sound pretty good for the money. I've spent quite a bit of time with an XR-25 and several hours with an XR-45 as well. They are pretty detailed/transparant and throw a good sound stage, but the more time I spend with them the less musical they seem. Not dry, but perhaps a touch dull. Don't get me wrong, it sounds great-- it just doesn't really keep my undivided attention/I don't connect with it emotionally.

I still haven't tried them with aftermarket power cables and from what I understand this helps a lot. But yeah--if you were to go this route you could possibly rethink your $1k source budget and go with something more affordable like a pioneer universal (that is supposed to have same transport as elite models). This could be a pretty good setup and a way for you to move more money towards your speakers.

 

[sleepkyng]

the Teac digital poweramp supposedly has a more fun sound than the pannys or the jvc's

all in all, keep your ear to the ground about this new technology because the more people get interested, the better they'll get!

 

[Jose Perez]

one more unit to add to the list, I've been eyeballing the Quad Electrostatics QC-24 as a potential buy and while most of the reviews I'm reading are favorable the info I get from here is usually pretty solid and unbiased so any info you guys have on it would help.

 

[bifcake]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jose Perez Well I went ahead and bought a new source instead with the $$ I had and am taking bifcake's advice and rethinking my preamp budget. BTW I bought the silver Cambridge Audio 640c that was in the FS forums last week. So anyways, I've been looking around online at the various audio forums and review sites and still haven't found the pre I'm after. The more I look the more it seems as though I'm wanting a tube line stage. The Cary units are really nice looking as are the Conrad Johnson units I've seen, but there are a few different Chinese built units that I've seen, but still nothing screams "BUY ME!!!" yet. Any more info you guys can throw my way is definitely appreciatted. My new budget is in the $750 range but I can be talked into spending a few more $$ if the product justifies the expense. And once again, thanks in advance.

You may want to look at Cary SLP-88. I think it's a fantastic pre-amp for the money and a really good headphone amp to boot. It runs from $800-$1100 on Audiogon. If you're patient, you can find it for $800-$850.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

[dsavitsk]

Recent reviews of the Eastern Electric have been good (even used, it is out of your price range, just mentioned here as yet another one to think about.)

You might also look at the Bottlehead pre -- a $179 tube pre kit that is a great way to cheaply get tubes, though you'll have to build it (http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobesp..._stage_kit.htm) and Audio Electronic Supply -- a $400 kit designed by Dennis at Cary (http://www.audioelectronicsupply.com...d_num=AE-3_KIT). The AES can be purchased assembled and is a better sounding design than the slp88, though it lacks some extra inputs, etc.

-d

 

[sberger]

i second the the bottlehead foreplay. miles better than it's price would suggest. i'm using it to replace the pre on my simaudio i-5 integrated, and the tubes really do make a difference. and while i understand building it is easy as diy projects go, i chose to buy an assembled kit. if you look on audiogon, there are some of those for sale. also, check out bottlehead.com and the bottlehead forum at audioasylum.com

good luck.


Quote:

Originally Posted by dsavitsk Recent reviews of the Eastern Electric have been good (even used, it is out of your price range, just mentioned here as yet another one to think about.) You might also look at the Bottlehead pre -- a $179 tube pre kit that is a great way to cheaply get tubes, though you'll have to build it (http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobesp..._stage_kit.htm) and Audio Electronic Supply -- a $400 kit designed by Dennis at Cary (http://www.audioelectronicsupply.com...d_num=AE-3_KIT). The AES can be purchased assembled and is a better sounding design than the slp88, though it lacks some extra inputs, etc. -d