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2nd PREAMP Suggestions?

Monad

Monad

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
Hi All,

Currently I'm running a Shiit Freya preamp. I usually run it with tubes selected but have been shifting back to passive and the JFET settings, depending on source material. Recently considered adding a Schiit phono stage and Asgard 2 can amp.. the cost of which, used, puts me in the rage of just adding a new used preamp, with headphone output and in some cases, a phono stage..

I've read conflicting and corroborating evidence, testimonials about the relative merits of one brand or model series.. discussions about a certain pre, having an amazing phono section (Yamaha C60-85)..justifications about not including one in a build that I didn't really understand..

So far I'm considering the following 'vintage' options:
Yamaha C2,4, 60, 80, 85 CX-800, 1000
Nikko Beta I, II, II.. 20, 30..
Hafler I DH.. multiple models
Acurus, RS-11/ LS-11
SAE 2200 Preamp w EQ (local CL)
Adcom GFP-555/ 750

...I'm sure others that I'm forgetting right now.

Assumptions- everyone has at least 1, here are mine-
- play ready- the choice has to be able to run now, without recap, service or expecting to have to service it, in the foreseeable future.
- no model/ manufacturing defects- I've read that the Yamaha M- series amps have a glue that is slowly eating them down to the nub, not sure if this is the same for the C.
- cost, under $500ish
- US made is a plus but not a requirement
 
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Find a Yamaha C-4 and send it to avionic for recap and restoration. I did a few years ago and it will outlast me. It was also under $500 total, including recap and shipping to and from. The C-4 has 3 phono inputs and dual switchable output jacks, also cartridge loading.
 
From your list, the Adcom GFP-750 would be my choice. Designed by Nelson Pass, Stereophile Class A, selectable active or passive operation, and young enough that it won't need recapping for many years to come.
 
avionic said:
Better buy new. With warranty.
Click to expand...
ideally, i'd like to have a time machine, so i could go forward into the future, read a bunch of reviews/ replies here on AK, to make my decision about a "new" pre, which would be considered vintage at that time.. ;D

- obvious hyperbole, in regards to the M-series 'all-consuming', 'kickstarter of the apocolypse'...glue.

when I listed the assumption about 'service in the foreseeable future', what I meant there was- 'I am hoping to buy a unit that I can play right now that doesn't immediately trigger upgrade anxiety' (yes another emo exaggeration). I've found that speaking at the extremes can inject humor into a discussion, illuminate the meaning at the center and trigger folk into responding, often with useful info.
 
Tedrick said:
From your list, the Adcom GFP-750 would be my choice. Designed by Nelson Pass, Stereophile Class A, selectable active or passive operation, and young enough that it won't need recapping for many years to come.
Click to expand...

Interesting about the 'for many years to come' - a huge selling point for sure.. I've read that anything over 5 years needs recapping :D (bait)..and found 11x restoration services online, pushing these ideas.. ;D Oddly the Adcom 555II I just picked up, looks as new and crushed the old amp, as far as performance. I can't imagine wanting to eff with musical upgrades right now or in the near future. That's what I meant by the assumption above. I get it though, one persons perception of clarity, can be another's definition of rancid syrup.

More than likely, what it would take to get the GFA/ GFP upgrade bug, would be to hear one with the upgrades and prefer it to some degree or just simply hear a better amp/preamp that leaves me wanting.. Since I live in the sticks, with only $300 AV Unit, sat speaker/ sub.. Garageophiles for friends, the chance of hearing another good system, in the near-term, is limited.

For now, I'm like John Travolta in that made for TV movie, "Boy in the Plastic Bubble". Infections are costly. Buying an audio device, then spending double++ on it to tweak the sound (some %) is not the medicine I'm looking for (right now).
 
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classic carl said:
Find a Yamaha C-4 and send it to avionic for recap and restoration. I did a few years ago and it will outlast me. It was also under $500 total, including recap and shipping to and from. The C-4 has 3 phono inputs and dual switchable output jacks, also cartridge loading.
Click to expand...
Good advice.

I'm intersted in the whole C and CX line. These are the models that started my pre- investigations, though I got excited and ended up with the Schiit Freya (thanks Bostown!).

There's a decent body of information about each online but very few sources for comparison between the models. The M-2 amp cost 3x what the M4 does on the bays but the C2 and C4 pricing come in all over the place. The C-70, I've seen for $199, all the way up to $500. I just missed a C 80 for $200, from CLister who would ship, from San Diego..any input, links, anecdotals..on the relative merits/ similarities of the Yamaha C(X) models would be appreciated.
 
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avionic said:
Better buy new. With warranty.
Click to expand...

D'you do repairs/ restoration on amps/ preamps..? Not having a local tech (Omaha) is one of the reasons, I'm not looking to buy for upgrade, immediately. I live out East but get into Central quite often..
 
Carver C1 or C11. Add the BillD mods and you have an awesome preamp with both excellent MM and MC inputs.

BillWojo
 
There is a nice fully rebuilt PAT 4 in Barter Town as we speak for reasonable money. Should be trouble free for a long time and USA origin.
 
I just bought a Kenwood C1 to replace the Onkyo P306RS in my 3rd system because the source selector switch on the Onkyo is starting to get to be problematic. I'll report back on how it sounds after I get it.
 
SOOoooo, I made a selection on a new preamp.

Mostly because of the upgrade that came on the unit but the price/ condition was good++, too.

the mos recent WINNER, in the 'dogpound home audio challenge': a Nakamichi CA-5 with a Backert Labs Greenforce power supply installed. http://backertlabs.com/our-power-supply-greenforce/

the seller stated that Backert used 2 Nak CA-5 (one with the above powersupply, one without) preamps to test against their high-end preamp. seller also said he brought his new parasound $1100 preamp in for the test as well and the Nak smoked it and many of the other preamps they were testing with, which cost far more.

So I was a finger away from buying a Yamaha C-70 on the ebay and had been peppering a seller with Q but ended up pulling trigger on the Nak, after talking myself into it, around 11:00p.

I figured either way, I'll get hands on with a good preamp that's most likely been tested and was recently in good working order..as well, if I don't like it, which I can't imagine, in very many possible worlds, I'll be able to sell it for as much, possibly more, given the right exposure.. Also thought I may be able to take the powersupply with, to the next pre, in the event the Nak goes down, or loses its initial luster.

The kicker on the deal, was when, in doing research on the power supply, I read about another company, advertising the install of these power supply units, on any preamp or amp, for a mere $1000.00. At that point, $350 + $20 for shipping seemed like a fair price.
 
obv, or it should be obv that the tech description, on the power supply page, went quickly over my head..

does anyone have any experience with this power supply, or similar? sharks with frigging lasers?!
 
Good luck with the Nak. I hope it sounds great, when installed?

Also, the Acurus preamps are very nice. A true taste of the high end. Very good presence, clean and clear, with a sweet top end.
Consider one, if you're still searching in the future.
 
So I've had the CA-5 for a few days now. The sound is decent, different from the Freya. I'm getting more bass from the same files and while I do like the sound, I'm conflicted to some degree..

Also, maybe folk here can answer this.. With the Nak as pre, I'm getting a buzz/ hum, audible from a few feet away, from the tweeters of both speaker pairs I've had hooked up, when no music is being played. It either goes away or becomes inaudible when playing music. The sound was not present with the Freya hooked up, in place of the Nak.

I'm going muck around with wires, try different connectors.. it's quiet but I'm starting to notice it more. If I have to turn off the preamp when I'm not listening to it, it's going to bum me out. For what it's worth, I turn on everything first, then turn on the Adcom 555ii amp, doing the same path in reverse to shut down.. turn off amp, let it power down, before turning everything else off. If I can't sort out the buzzing, I'm going to be inconsolable.
 
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