R. Mallow
New Member
Hi all,
I'm looking into upgrading my system and it's time to go for a preamp. I have been doing quite a bit of reading about what I might want to look for. A lot of the stuff I'm interested in isn't typically available locally, so a listening test isn't possible apart from gaining a very general sense from youtube videos in some cases. It's also hard to guess regarding quality based on how much they sell for because these are mostly components that people would consider good bang for your buck, so that could be "good for a $300 pre" or it could be "great and under appreciated, nobody knows about it so the price is low."
I'm hoping that some of you have heard some number of these preamps and can give me your perspective on their overall quality--how you could rank them compared against each other, which things they do well or don't do well, etc.
--Audire Legato/Andante/Diffet
--Superphon Revelation (Dual Mono, ideally, but also interested in the Rev Basic)
--Hegeman Hapi 2 (or hapi i)
--Audio Research SP 4, 5, 7, 9
TIDBITS:
I am planning on getting new speakers when I move in June, waiting until I can plan for the room they'll be in.
otherwise:
-sanyo tp825d with shure m91ed and EVG stylus
-hafler dh200 amp
-klh model 17 speakers
-aperion s10 subwoofer
-currently using advent model 300 as a preamp, love it but feel like i could do better and have the advent for a bedroom system.
ALSO
I'm open to suggestions if you think there are better options in this price range (think like up to like $600-700 tops). I have heard but didn't love Conrad Johnson stuff, Eico hf85,
I'm looking into upgrading my system and it's time to go for a preamp. I have been doing quite a bit of reading about what I might want to look for. A lot of the stuff I'm interested in isn't typically available locally, so a listening test isn't possible apart from gaining a very general sense from youtube videos in some cases. It's also hard to guess regarding quality based on how much they sell for because these are mostly components that people would consider good bang for your buck, so that could be "good for a $300 pre" or it could be "great and under appreciated, nobody knows about it so the price is low."
I'm hoping that some of you have heard some number of these preamps and can give me your perspective on their overall quality--how you could rank them compared against each other, which things they do well or don't do well, etc.
--Audire Legato/Andante/Diffet
--Allegedly all very good, and the minimal amount of video i could find sounded pretty great. I am told the legato is excellent, but the others are even better. Seems like they're hard to find and are priced inconsistently, i assume relatedly.
--Superphon Revelation (Dual Mono, ideally, but also interested in the Rev Basic)
--I've been interested in these for a while, and there's a rev basic with dm200 up near portland, or right now--long drive, but i'm likely moving to oregon soon-ish, so a trip out there to scout out the areas is in the works. Can't even find a video to get a sense of the sound, though.
--Hegeman Hapi 2 (or hapi i)
--Everyone talks of the Hapi 2 as being this crazy good product for cheap, but pretty hard to find.
--Naim 32.5 with HiCap
--wasn't initially on my radar, but a listining on CL like 4 hours drive away appeared for what looks to be a pretty good deal. hard to get info because lots of naim owners seem to only own naim gear. my impression is that many of the reviews i've read can't be considered reliable or reasonably unbiased.
--Audio Research SP 4, 5, 7, 9
--I realize these are the models that are "bad," but I have liked what I've heard and they're more within price range. Also, there's a pretty good chance I may have a local source on an sp9 mki for like $500-600, which seems like a pretty decent deal.
Thanks for your help, everyone!
TIDBITS:
I am planning on getting new speakers when I move in June, waiting until I can plan for the room they'll be in.
otherwise:
-sanyo tp825d with shure m91ed and EVG stylus
-hafler dh200 amp
-klh model 17 speakers
-aperion s10 subwoofer
-currently using advent model 300 as a preamp, love it but feel like i could do better and have the advent for a bedroom system.
ALSO
I'm open to suggestions if you think there are better options in this price range (think like up to like $600-700 tops). I have heard but didn't love Conrad Johnson stuff, Eico hf85,