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Best Vintage Preamp

GKTAUDIO said:
Apt Holman
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I got mine refurbished from Audio Proz.
Very clean, very crisp. Not for someone who likes a softer "tubey" sound but I like it.
You'll hear every change to your system w the APT. Phono is quite nice also.

I've has NAD, Yamaha, Carver, Adcom & Onkyo Integra pre amps.
APT is a keeper for me.
I'd like to hear a Threshold in my system some day..............
 
I have modified my Apt preamps. In my view they are underappreciated and sound better than many preamps costing much more, if maintained and especially when updated or modded properly. They have a lot of tone shaping and signal handling capability - more than most.

The Threshold FET Ten H/L is wonderful, but I find I prefer the balanced E model in comparison. Both have a somewhat tube like character to my ear, but faster, less noise and distortion. That is in my everyday system. OTOH, the Spectral sounds better in many of my setups, and has a great phono stage.

Just recapped my Accuphase and really pleased with the sound and performance.
 
David_NC said:
I'm pretty fond of my Sony TA-2000 and Marantz 1060 (integrated amp but makes a great pre).
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Hey David - I’m in the process of trying to land either one of these units, sadly without the cases. I’ll actually be hooking it up to a Realistic STA2000 - just because…. In your opinion, which of the two would you keep if you had to give one up? I like the idea of the 1060 since then if I have my 2000 serviced, I’d have a backup amp, but I really like what I’ve read about the Sony. Either way these things aren’t cheap….
Would love your opinion.
 
There is a sweet Audio Research SP9 for sale right now for under a thousand dollars.
No affiliation.
Supposedly factory refurbished (I have no reason to doubt this) and with fresh tubes.
I really don't need this, but it's never going to go down in value.
This would be a huge upgrade for the money for a lot of folk following this thread.
 
Chris __R said:
Hey David - I’m in the process of trying to land either one of these units, sadly without the cases. I’ll actually be hooking it up to a Realistic STA2000 - just because…. In your opinion, which of the two would you keep if you had to give one up? I like the idea of the 1060 since then if I have my 2000 serviced, I’d have a backup amp, but I really like what I’ve read about the Sony. Either way these things aren’t cheap….
Would love your opinion.
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If I was choosing between the two, I'd go with the Sony. The Marantz is a good unit, but the build quality of the Sony is pretty amazing. Plus, the TA-2000 is a great sounding preamp.
 
David_NC said:
If I was choosing between the two, I'd go with the Sony. The Marantz is a good unit, but the build quality of the Sony is pretty amazing. Plus, the TA-2000 is a great sounding preamp.
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Thanks for the reply David. Definitely appreciate your opinion. We'll see how it goes. The TA-2000 may slip through my fingers. Either way, I'm sure I'll be satisfied, but definitely leaning Sony despite the allure of 'Marantz'.
 
DeFriend said:
There is a sweet Audio Research SP9 for sale right now for under a thousand dollars.
No affiliation.
Supposedly factory refurbished (I have no reason to doubt this) and with fresh tubes.
I really don't need this, but it's never going to go down in value.
This would be a huge upgrade for the money for a lot of folk following this thread.
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The SP9 is one of their hybrid models, the signal chain combining mostly solid state (FETs) with a couple of tubes thrown in for really no good reason. When it comes to ARC, I prefer their all tube designs, and found this model to be sadly lacking. Mind, it may be somebody elses dream sound, but it's certainly not mine. I have been an Audio Research fan since the 1970s, and still use their stuff daily. All-tube only though:)
 
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David_NC said:
A look inside a TA-2000 is pretty impressive, but I do like the 1060 as well!
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Well, I ended up missing out on the Sony, but made up for it by connecting with someone for a 1060. I sold some really nice ADS speakers I had gotten free off someone’s porch (CL) and fixed up and paid the exact amount for the Marantz. So basically got it for free plus some sweat equity. Cleaned up the 1060. Love it.
I use it as a preamp for my STA 2000, which will need servicing sooner rather than later.

Now working on building a stereo console.
 
Chris __R said:
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Well, I ended up missing out on the Sony, but made up for it by connecting with someone for a 1060. I sold some really nice ADS speakers I had gotten free off someone’s porch (CL) and fixed up and paid the exact amount for the Marantz. So basically got it for free plus some sweat equity. Cleaned up the 1060. Love it.
I use it as a preamp for my STA 2000, which will need servicing sooner rather than later.

Now working on building a stereo console.
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Nice! Which model ADS do you have?
 
Dave Hamm said:
The Sony TA2000 was a superd preamp in it's time.....

Dave Hamm
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I like the VU meters. I heard a recapped model and thought it sounded quite soft to my ears but maybe it needed more work done to it. It has been recapped.
 
I don't know about being "Best" but a McIntosh C-28 with a few changes/upgrades to the phono section make it wonderful to use day after day after day...
 
Have a couple preamps Hafler DH-110, Yamaha C-65 both of which are 80's and Adcom GFP-565 which is early 90's and this is the one that I listen to the most.
 
Any recommendations for a fully balanced vintage preamp with two sets of XLR inputs?

I've been spending hours digging but find few candidates and if I do find a nice model, say a Luxman, HiFiShark can't find it.

A wood cabinet would be icing on the cake.
 
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