[Zaubertuba]

In the good ol' days, preamps were pretty much all the same: Tuner/Phono/Aux/Tape/Tape 2 with a volume, balance, and maybe a tone control.

There's a lot more options these days. So what kinds of inputs do you need/use most on your preamp? What about outputs?

Do you like pushbutton selector switches, rotary switches, remote controls?

Also, are there cool "nice-to-haves" you wish you had, like a good phono stage, balanced ins/outs, tape buffer, etc?

 

[El_Doug]

I'm a weirdo

I'd buy, in a heartbeat, something with 3 balanced inputs, 2 balanced outputs routed through a volume pot, and 2 balanced outputs straight-through (tape). 1 single-ended input would be great, if the preamp had a phase splitter in it.

Rotary selection all the way!

 

[Jon L]

I would trade a beautiful-looking preamp with a dozen inputs/outs and even remote control for an ugly preamp that doesn't harm the music signal fed into it..

This is an extremely difficult feat, at any price unfortunately IME.

 

[Uncle Erik]

About a dozen inputs, a transformer-based attenuator, a single tube on each channel and output transformers.

Which, sooner or later, I will have. It'll be an Ultrapath.

 

[Zaubertuba]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon L /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would trade a beautiful-looking preamp with a dozen inputs/outs and even remote control for an ugly preamp that doesn't harm the music signal fed into it.. This is an extremely difficult feat, at any price unfortunately IME.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif About a dozen inputs, a transformer-based attenuator, a single tube on each channel and output transformers. Which, sooner or later, I will have. It'll be an Ultrapath.

A dozen inputs!

You guys have that many sources?

 

[Lazarus Short]

pepperoni

and green peppers

mushrooms

olives

chives

 

[Habaneroholic]

LDR based volume control.

Left/Right vol controls on remote. Threat level IIIA metal remote

Anti-thump on selector

Wired point/point

Power supply robust enough that power cords make no difference.

John C.

 

[Hi-fi Wigwammer]

TBH i'm not bothered about balanced inputs/outputs or remote control.

Lord, give me one of these and i'll die a happy man....

 

[Cankin]

If it is a tube integrate or preamp, I'd like a timer to turn on/off the amp.