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Best Vintage Preamp

B&K sonata series with XLR inputs, and external power supply

here is the inside, all discrete components

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FauxHall said:
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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Have you looked at the Accuphase C-280v?
 
"Best" has way too many variables, of course, but my personal favorite preamps after decades of audio pursuits are:

Mcintosh C33 (recapped) — wonderfully transparent sound along with myriad useful functions for playback, recording, troubleshooting.
Mcintosh MX117 (serviced and updated by Terry DeWick) — sounds to me the same as the C33, and incorporates a lovely FM tuner.
Kenwood Basic C2 — It's every bit as good as reputed, with a particularly great phono preamp and precise volume control.
 
Tinkerbelle said:
Have you looked at the Accuphase C-280v?
Click to expand...

Yes as well as a couple of other Accuphase like the C-270V.

A bit pricey but the cheapest new balanced pre-amp I can find with dual XLR inputs is a Musical Fidelity M6s PRE at about $1600.

I need to mention my wall power is 240v at 50 Hz. I'm open to using an external transformer but I've ruined a couple of nice 120v pieces already from my stupidity.
 
The Rotel RC-980 nice preamp but not top of the line in the Rotel chain

You want the RC-990bx or the the ROTEL RHC-10 MICHI

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PabloTincho said:
The Rotel RC-980 nice preamp but not top of the line in the Rotel chain

You want the RC-990bx or the the ROTEL RHC-10 MICHI

361510-44bfbc80-rotel_rc990bx.jpg
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Pablo states: "I just got a Rotel RC-870BX, and is maybe one of the best in my collection".

Then I state that my backup preamp is a Rotel 980 which is a step higher than yours, and not the best in my collection.

Then you state that of course the 980 isn't great, as it's not Rotel's top model.

Pablo, what exactly is the point you are trying to make?
 
McIntosh C24 - first gen of their SS versions with the vintage style of the earlier tube preamps - more importantly, a lovely sound!

On another approach, a Hafler DH-101 offers a wide open upgrade path into a better preamp, not that I haven't enjoyed mine in a second system assignment now
 
I used a Hafler DH101 a long time ago, and I still have the unit. It was upgraded by Musical Concepts, with better power supply and circuit caps. I was able to compare my unit to a stock 101 and mine sounded much better from top to bottom. Less glare, with better definition and clarity. This was a nice preamp used with an Adcom 535 amp, Thorens TD318 TT and Celestion 3 speakers. This was my first upgrade from my HS/College era system.
 
Audio Research SP-10 MKII is very well regarded for a reason. Quiet, powerful, extended...all of the virtues you would want or expect. Phono section accommodates 2 TT, and has switchable cartridge loading. This preamp delivers a wonderfully wide and deep soundstage, with pinpoint imaging and conveyance of height. Prices continue to move higher. You could find this 2 box preamp for about $2k just a few years ago....now expect to pay $4k for a clean example. Caveat is even the most recent SP10 is almost 40yrs old. Parts were of very high quality for the time, but expect to eventually replace capacitors, and possibly risk changing the voicing of the preamp.

Audible Illusions M3 and M3a would qualify as vintage, and are both outstanding all tube preamps. Some say the design runs tubes very hard, but staying with stock Russian tubes, or German 7dj8 tubes (*7*) ensures long and stable use. I used a Conrad Johnson PV5 for many years before acquiring an AI M3. I never looked back, and the sonic improvement was noticeable from the first moment of comparison. An AI M3 can be found for about $1k, and an M3B for about $1500. A CJ PV5 is worth about $1200 in good operating condition...however the AI does sound better for about the same cost. Bill Thahlman (sp?), who worked for CJ for many years, offers a fully rebuild of the PV5, but the cost is $1k+. His work includes improvements to the power supply, grounding and parts selection. You will essentially have a new preamp, but at a cost that may exceed sonic value.

A fully rebuilt Dynaco PAS3 is a great vintage choice that sounds much better than most expect. The ST70 / Pas3 combo was the Model T of tube equipment. Built for the masses, with the result greater than the sum of parts. Most opinions of these pieces were formed after picking up from a garage sale for $20-$50, dusting it off, and turning it on. Ho Hummmmmmmm........ Very few have heard these pieces in their fully rebuilt glory. Taking the time and spending the money to do a proper restoration job is key, and will get you to the point of diminishing returns in vintage equipment. The PAS is capable of transparent reproduction, and outstanding vinyl playback. A carefully restored PAS3 can be found for about $500-$600.

An even better way to go is to find a VanAlstine Super PAS3. This is the basic Dynaco PAS3 rebuilt by VanAlstine with newer and higher quality parts, along with a few power supply refinements that deliver an audible improvement compared to the original design. A VA SP3 can be found for about $500-$700.

Happy listening !
 
I have had quite a few preamps in and out of my systems. Some very good some not so good.

Counterpoint SA 7.1 - so-so
Audio Research SP 14 - very decent and way above the cheaper SP9
Audiolab 8000Q modestly priced but decent performing (still used in modest library system)
Classe DR7 - two chassis (one is the power supply, the size of many power amps), two separate phono stages, adjustable for loading and capacitance - an over the top assault on state of the art c.1980s Cost a huge amount, less than 200 made, if you find one for under $3K, jump on it. (I still use one in my 3rd system)
Bryston BP-17 - solid state unit that gives quite good sound, about 10 years old,very clean sound (in use in my 2nd system)
Conrad Johnson Premier 14 - tube preamp in my main system, line stage only, excellent sound (variable depending on tube choice and age) C.1995
 
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