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Thread: Preamp recommendations ?

  1. #1
    RIP 2021 SEAWOLF97's Avatar
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    Question Preamp recommendations ?

    Looking for a nice preamp in the under $200 range.

    I have a Hafler dh101 that I like the sound , but it is very basic and has limited ports..
    Also have a Yamaha C-4 , lots of controls, but I've never really liked the sound.
    Ideally looking for a BGW 203 control center, but they are very hard to find.

    Almost had a Musical Fidelity pre, but the seller crapped out.

    What do you all like in that price range ?
    Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles

  2. #2
    Senior Señor boputnam's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SEAWOLF97 View Post
    Looking for a nice preamp in the under $200 range.


    I've not found anything with good functionality (nor proper grounding!) in that price range. Even on eBay, there are no bargains on good preamps...
    bo

    "Indeed, not!!"

  3. #3
    RIP 2021 SEAWOLF97's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by boputnam View Post


    I've not found anything with good functionality (nor proper grounding!) in that price range. Even on eBay, there are no bargains on good preamps...
    so..what do you like ?...I'll do the searching , pretty good at finding bargains outside of eBay
    Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles

  4. #4
    pelly3s
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    If you don't mind that its not a straight forward preamp and has all sorts of useless surround sound stuff the Sony TAE-1000ESD is a great piece.

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    Senior Member gerard's Avatar
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    hello

    I had a carver C1 nice preamp with god phono MM and Mc , can be on ebay for a very reasonable price
    Adcom also on ebay the G555 or G565

    much much better is a tube pre especially with tube phono if you listen to vinyl but cost 1000 $

    Gerard

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    Nakamichi CA-5All. My Carver CT-3 didn't even come close.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Storm's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JSF13 View Post
    Nakamichi CA-5All. My Carver CT-3 didn't even come close.
    I got a Nakamichi CA-5 and it kicks major bootee'!



    -Storm.

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    Quote Originally Posted by pelly3s View Post
    If you don't mind that its not a straight forward preamp and has all sorts of useless surround sound stuff the Sony TAE-1000ESD is a great piece.
    I would like to stick with a straight 2 channel and avoid unneeded circuitry

    Quote Originally Posted by JSF13 View Post
    Nakamichi CA-5All. My Carver CT-3 didn't even come close.
    Nak, IMHO , (flame suit on) is pretty, well designed , but unreliable. Every piece of Nak gear I've ever had has had glitches. Carver too..and NAD, for sure, and even Luxman.

    Have been told that on my upcoming trip,,lots of high qual gear is available at bargain prices, so the $200 limit that I originally quoted is out the window.

    What do you consider to be sweetest ? best build ? best bang for the buck ? most reliable ? The one that you lust after ?

    At this point, I've ruled out MacIntosh and Nak and Yamaha and anything black plastic. Remote would be nice , but not a necessity.
    Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles

  9. #9
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    Why not get a good front end switch box seeing you like the Hafler?

    We will probably never see the likes of the Hafler for a quality a bargin prices again and whatever else you consider will have a different sonic signature.

    If you can find one the early Threshold preamps (SL10) are excellent but these days the collectors gems.

  10. #10
    pelly3s
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    http://outlawaudio.com/products/990.html i wouldnt mind one of those

  11. #11
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie View Post
    If you can find one the early Threshold preamps (SL10) are excellent but these days the collectors gems.
    I second that recommendation... the SL10 was and is likely still an excellent preamp... the Threshold stuff of that era will take abuse and still remain in spec as well as anything NASA has ever built. I owned a Threshold NS10, the forerunner of the SL10. It too was well built but didn't sound quite as nice.


    Widget

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    Junior Member P.Warner's Avatar
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    Second most subjective topic in audio.

    I'm considering the preferences you mentioned, foremost the Hafler 101. From that, the first preamp I'd look for, would be an APT Holman. You can pick one up cheap if you are lucky. I just looked at eBay and a few sold for between $107 and $350. If you have a few extra bucks, take a look at the Marantz Model 7T and if the Marantz appeals to you - but its over-budget, you might look around for one of the later, Sun Valley Marantz pre-amps or even one of the integrated amps with pre-main plugs and just think of the extra power amp as a bonus. Yes, it's totally subjective but the Hafler 101 has been part of my journey.

  13. #13
    Senior Member Storm's Avatar
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    Seawolf97,

    Have you tried the 80s Nak stuff?

    What is so wrong with it?



    -Storm.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by P.Warner View Post
    , the first preamp I'd look for, would be an APT Holman. .
    I looked this up on 'da Bay...series 1 looks more interesting than series 2. Can you give me your thots on this , P.Warner ? It is handsome, but of course appearances tell you nothing about sound/functionality.
    Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles

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    Yamaha CX1

    Quote Originally Posted by SEAWOLF97 View Post
    I would like to stick with a straight 2 channel and avoid unneeded circuitry

    <snip>

    At this point, I've ruled out MacIntosh and Nak and Yamaha and anything black plastic. Remote would be nice , but not a necessity.
    I do have the Yamaha CX1. It has no gimmicks and no loudness. It also does not have "audiophile circuitry". It does have buffered inputs and a remote control, and it accepts moving magnet and moving coil phono cartridges.

    Ruediger

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