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Thread: Ideas for a Preamp Under $300? |
    
Silver Member Username: Lovegasoline
Post Number: 147
Registered: Jul-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 06:05 pm: |
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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: Lovegasoline
Post Number: 148
Registered: Jul-05
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 06:17 pm: |
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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. |
Bronze Member Username: Nottingham365
MA
USA
Post Number: 40
Registered: Mar-06
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 08:25 pm: |
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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. |
Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 13107
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 10:56 pm: |
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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: Mike3
Wylie,
Tx
USA
Post Number: 1541
Registered: May-06
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| Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 12:41 am: |
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JV, you belong in some kind of Customer Service position somewhere audio related! |
Gold Member Username: Mike3
Wylie,
Tx
USA
Post Number: 1542
Registered: May-06
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| Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 12:42 am: |
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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. |
Silver Member Username: Afj
Gaborone
Botswana
Post Number: 160
Registered: Jan-08
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| Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 06:31 am: |
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http://www.promitheusaudio.com/tvc.htm
havent heard it myself personally. maybe other members can comment |
Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigne
Dallas,
TX
Post Number: 13110
Registered: May-04
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| Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 01:18 pm: |
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It's a passive line control without a phono section. |
Silver Member Username: Hawkbilly
Nova Scotia
Canada
Post Number: 422
Registered: Jul-07
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| Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 04:43 pm: |
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Another option....
http://www.audio-ideas.com/reviews/preamps/audio-limits-preamplifier.html |
Platinum Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 11210
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, December 03, 2008 - 09:15 pm: |
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Get David M to try it first.
No phono. |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 1763
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 09:59 pm: |
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Ha ha.
Yeah, I'll take one for the team.
Most of it is still under warranty. |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 1764
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2008 - 10:00 pm: |
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Hmmmm... try a low-budget made in China tube pre-amp.
Nevermind. |
Silver Member Username: Lovegasoline
Post Number: 150
Registered: Jul-05
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| Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 11:01 pm: |
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Thanks a bunch for all the great input.
For the outcome of this quest, please see the separate post here:
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/542884.html |
Bronze Member Username: Milpai
Post Number: 14
Registered: Mar-06
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| Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 10:44 pm: |
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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 |
Bronze Member Username: Milpai
Post Number: 16
Registered: Mar-06
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| Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - 11:50 am: |
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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  |
Bronze Member Username: Milpai
Post Number: 17
Registered: Mar-06
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| Posted on Monday, April 06, 2009 - 10:30 pm: |
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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 |
