Ideas for a Preamp Under $300?
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Silver Member Username: LovegasolinePost Number: 147 Registered: Jul-05 | I'm pretty much a beginner on a budget who has slowly been putting together a 2-channel system for the past three years. My system consists of Yamaha Integrated Amp model A-700 (mid 1980's vintage). Sources are a Meridian 508.20 CDP and a Music Hall MMF.7 Turntable w/ Eroica Cartridge [the latter a high output MC Cart that is recommended to be run by a MM phone stage], Apple G5 as a music server w/iTunes (connected via cheap mini-plug > RCA cable), plus an inexpensive Philips DVD player for the occasional movie. Speakers are Polk LSi9s. After putting upgrades on hold for a year, I just purchased a McCormack DNA-125 Amp and I am going to integrate it into my system. I had intended to use the preamp and MM phono-pre section of the Yamaha A-700 Integrated amp to feed the McCormack amp until I could afford a separate preamp upgrade in the future (I've been curious about the Audible Illusions M3A, but I haven't really begun to do the research for the preamp yet). Unfortnately, I can NOT hook the Yamaha's preamp section to the McCormack...there's NO pre-out. Gah! In the interim, I need to get some sort of temporary preamp into this system to feed the McCormack. Finances are VERY tight right now. A good preamp is out of the question as my audio priorities include numerous system expansion upgrades [I'll have two more rooms to supply with music in the near future, so I'll set up either a hardwired or wireless music server based on my Apple computer]. So now I need to take a bit of a detour. Does anyone have recommendations for a premap (probably used) for under $300 that has switchable sources (CDP, AUX [Digital from Apple G5] , TT, DVD), MM phono stage, that will mate well with the McCormack and Polk LSi9? I listen to mostly rock with a little bit of everything else. I want something I can easily resell down the road, preferably without too big of a loss. This is a stop-gap measure. I haven't listened to tubes so I do not have an opinion on them vs. SS. Any ideas? Thanks a bunch. |
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Silver Member Username: LovegasolinePost Number: 148 Registered: Jul-05 | I should add that buying used will likely yield more nag for the buck so take that into consideration if anyone has any recommendations. Thanks. |
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Bronze Member Username: Nottingham365MA USA Post Number: 40 Registered: Mar-06 | You might consider the discontinued Adcom GFP-565. (Please note that there was also a GFP-555 in the Adcom line). Some people consider it a fine value with a respectable MM phono stage. It features several inputs and two tape loops. On audiogon, it usually sells for around $300.00 or a little less. Ebay is another option. I think you could resell it downstream at a similar price. Since the McCormack piece is high end, synergy might be lacking. But that may be the case with any preamp at the $300.00 price point. Best wishes. |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 13107 Registered: May-04 | . http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1231022217&/Dynaco-pas-3x-Tube-P reamp http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1232242649&/Rotel-RC-980bx http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1232149232&/Rotel-RC-1070 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1232167751&/Yamaha-C-85 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1232036659&/Superphon-Revelation -II-pre http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1231949096&/PS-Audio-4.6---5.0 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1231935307&/Marantz-3200 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1231725693&/NAD-C162 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1231710978&/B---K-Ref.-5-Series- II http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1231646092&/SAE-mark-xxx http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1231535698&/Rotel-RSP-976 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1231009551&/Adcom-GFP-555 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1230993506&/QUAD-33 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1230834162&/Quad-Model-44 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1230741227&/Perreaux-SA3-Class-A http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1230519390&/NAD-116 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1229888088&/Hafler-DH-110 http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1229635596&/Van-Alstine-Pat-5-Om ega-Star http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1229267451&/Hafler-DH-110 http://www.audioclassics.com/detail.php3?detail=CITATION-11&nav=cat http://www.audioclassics.com/detail.php3?detail=3300&nav=cat There you go, 21 choices. There's some fairly decent stuff avaiable for $300 or less. At least 90% of it is better than the Yamaha A400. . . |
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Gold Member Username: Mike3Wylie, Tx USA Post Number: 1541 Registered: May-06 | JV, you belong in some kind of Customer Service position somewhere audio related! |
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Gold Member Username: Mike3Wylie, Tx USA Post Number: 1542 Registered: May-06 | Oh wait, that's going to end up being a been there done that isn't it? Nice post above for the OP to work with. |
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Silver Member Username: AfjGaboroneBotswana Post Number: 160 Registered: Jan-08 | http://www.promitheusaudio.com/tvc.htm havent heard it myself personally. maybe other members can comment |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 13110 Registered: May-04 | . It's a passive line control without a phono section. |
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Silver Member Username: HawkbillyNova Scotia Canada Post Number: 422 Registered: Jul-07 | Another option.... http://www.audio-ideas.com/reviews/preamps/audio-limits-preamplifier.html |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 11210 Registered: Dec-04 | Get David M to try it first. No phono. |
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Gold Member Username: DmitchellOttawa, Ontario Canada Post Number: 1763 Registered: Feb-07 | Ha ha. Yeah, I'll take one for the team. Most of it is still under warranty. |
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Gold Member Username: DmitchellOttawa, Ontario Canada Post Number: 1764 Registered: Feb-07 | Hmmmm... try a low-budget made in China tube pre-amp. Nevermind. |
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Silver Member Username: LovegasolinePost Number: 150 Registered: Jul-05 | Thanks a bunch for all the great input. For the outcome of this quest, please see the separate post here: https://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-audio/542884.html |
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Bronze Member Username: MilpaiPost Number: 14 Registered: Mar-06 | Will a Promitheus TVC work with NAD C352 integrated's power amp section? These are the power amp figures that I got from NAD: 770 mV / 20k ohms / 470 pF Thanks |
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Bronze Member Username: MilpaiPost Number: 16 Registered: Mar-06 | Slow forum I guess. But anyways, I have orderd the Reference C-Core dual box TVC with Elma upgrades from Promitheus. Keeping my fingers crossed  |
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Bronze Member Username: MilpaiPost Number: 17 Registered: Mar-06 | Wanted to report back that the TVC works EXCELLENT with my NAD C352. The initial impressions after 1 hour are: tightened up bass superb separation wide soundstage each instrument has it's own space vocals are superb hardness is gone and music feels like it is floating free |
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