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Best Vintage Preamp

jblmar said:
Marantz 3650. Not because I own one, but of the preamps I've heard that passed my work bench the 3650 is very transparent.
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Hi ! could please elaborate what you mean for transparent ? low noise and low distortion ? does the opinion apply to both the phono and the line stage ? thanks a lot, gino
 
Pioneer Spec 2 based on specs, looks, performance (and maybe taste and preferance) also when other than analog tuners, R2R's Cassette Decks microphones headphones or turntables, later till date digital sources are hooked up to its analog in and (looped) outputs like dacs Bluetooth, WiFi, ethernet cabled or non wired, and streamers surfers pc's laptops portable digital and offcourse CD players. But mind you, I'm not 100% objective maybe, course I own two.
 
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Wally1955 said:
Aloha
today picked up a Sony TA-2000F from Customs Office
unfortunately there is no Signal ,power on lamps ok but no Sound out the Speakers to bad it's a case for Heinz the trusted Technician
Big surprise when take off the hood
found a jumper for the required Voltage that's gorgeous
Cheers
:beerchug:
Outside
View attachment 1601955
and inside very good
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I love these Sony's. Thats a very good one. Definatly one of the best rated reviewed preamplifiers then and now and still very reliable!.
I dont own this Sony era / model line gear (I had to draw the line some were). But its top notch and beautiful!
 
ProBlogger said:
.... Topping E30 ...
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Hi ! sorry to bother you. As the E30 has a remote controlled variable output ...
So it can work as a line preamp with only digital inputs ...
i wonder if you have tried it connected directly to the Parasound power amp. It is said to be very transparent even if the volume is digitally controlled.
And moreover ... which psu are you using for the E30 ?
Thanks a lot, gino

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Wally1955 said:
Sony TAE-8450 nice to have fits gorgeous not only with Sony poweramps
Cheers and stay safe
:beerchug:
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:thumbsup::smoke:
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Wow great pre amp.
Not bad not bad at all. I love that Sony brochure from way back then. With that huge 8 series V-vet pre you got here, but then with its cover off and placed on a table in a brown 'lab', with all those typical 70"s dressed tech guys looking at the inside. That photo is by the way shot in a cafe in 'De Jordaan' neighbourhood in Amsterdam the Netherlands back in the days!
 
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ginetto61 said:
Hi ! sorry to bother you. As the E30 has a remote controlled variable output ...
So it can work as a line preamp with only digital inputs ...
i wonder if you have tried it connected directly to the Parasound power amp. It is said to be very transparent even if the volume is digitally controlled.
And moreover ... which psu are you using for the E30 ?
Thanks a lot, gino

2205fccf78e78cb1ee7a6913f0e1aa5b_2048x2048.jpg
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No I haven’t, and I have no desire to do so. The Parasound preamp controls all my digital AND analog sources as opposed to the E30 which would only control my 2 digital sources.

The power supply that I use for the Topping E30 is from an old Roku streamer. 5 volts, 2.5 amp.
 
ProBlogger said:
No I haven’t, and I have no desire to do so. The Parasound preamp :trebon: controls all my digital AND analog sources as opposed to the E30 which would only control my 2 digital sources.
The power supply that I use for the Topping E30 is from an old Roku streamer. 5 volts, 2.5 amp.
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Thanks ! yes you are right ... the E30 is mainly a dac ... regards. gino :thumbsup:
 
50 years old Sansui CA-606 is a very good example of serious Japanese preamp this Series from early 70th are my favorites sound+design match perfect thats why own couple of different types
Lucky if find them with the blue protection tape on the frame and the schematic glued underneath
Cheers and stay safe
:beerchug:
IMG_20200916_203819.jpg
very rare find with original schematic plan
IMG_20200914_174252.jpg
:music::smoke:
 
Another vote for Audible Illusions.
Excellent preamps, I just wish they had more models with a single volume control!

Audio Research made some nice stuff, but it can be a bit sterile sounding.
 
ProBlogger said:
Parasound P/LD 1100. Bought it new in 1996...still going strong. Topping E30 is running through the direct input, feeding the Audiolab 6000CDT CD transport. It doesn’t have a phono section, but I don’t need one. Dual mono and class A, designed by John Curl.

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ProBlogger,
I had to reply because I have the "inverse" Parasound pre- and power-amps compared to your photo.
  • HCA-1000 power amp that matches your preamp (powering the sub in my avatar)
  • P3 preamp that matches your power amp (brand new to me and still untested in my system! I bought it as an 'upgrade' path to future balanced power amp(s), and it has a built-in phono stage that might be alright)
But back to the purpose of this thread, I'm quite fond of an Audio Research LS7 linestage (no built-in phono stage) from around 1994 (vintage??)
 
RossW said:
Audio Research made some nice stuff, but it can be a bit sterile sounding.
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Look for the earlier models like the SP3, SP6 or the SP8 as they use the 12AX7 tubes. After that they switched to 6DJ8 and later to another tube.
I have a 6DJ8 based one that I need to sell, as I founld it didn't give me much tube type sound, replaced it with a SP8 and couldn't be happier.

BillWojo
 
I have this 70's vintage HK Citation 11. I just like the thing! It now needs a refreshing (on the to-do list). I've had so much gear pass through my workshop over the years, but I've always held onto this one.
 
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