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Help - which preamp to choose?

G

greg77543

New Member
Looking to buy a preamplifier. Between these, which of these do you recommend based on experience (sound quality and build quality)? Or which of these wouldn't you buy based on previous experience? I like all of these based on price, condition and compatibility (input & output impedance, etc.) but can't decide on one (or even two). My source is strictly line level (computer based with DAC).

Nakamichi CA5
Kenwood L-07 CII
Bryston 0.5
Forte F44
PS Audio 5.7
PS Audio 7.0
Meitner PA-6i
B&K MC-101
B&K Pro 10 MC
Quicksilver Remote Preamp (latest 6DJ8 version)
Cary AE-3 (standard, not signature model)
Audible Illusions Modulus L1
Sonic Frontiers SLF-1
 
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That's a long list! I would start by searching for reviews on each model.
That way you may be able to weed out a few that are known to have or develope issues.
 
What about Mcintosh, Marantz, Citation and Fisher tube stuff? On a budget, Hafler, Bozak, B&K, NAD, restored Dynaco. ARC if you have the coin. Early Accuphase was outstanding, too.
 
I like The bottom one.The first Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 I bought was the 23rd unit they produced.I thought it sounded great.The one I have now was heavily rebuilt using much higher quality parts ( not Parts Connexion upgrades) by the guy who was in the main production team from the begining.To me it sounds awesome.
 
The Kenwood L-07Cll is an incredible preamp. The only one that I have ever heard is in my main system with L-09Ms, so I don't know how it would sound with any other amps. What are you using for an amp?
 
Bryston 0.5 is nothing special. I have one, the 0.4 which is 0.5 w/o phono section. I bought it NIB/OS and its still NIB. :D I also have a BP-20.
I am partial to tube preamps and Quicksilver is a good brand.
 
greg77543 said:
Looking to buy a preamplifier. Between these, which of these do you recommend based on experience (sound quality and build quality)? Or which of these wouldn't you buy based on previous experience? I like all of these based on price, condition and compatibility (input & output impedance, etc.) but can't decide on one (or even two). My source is strictly line level (computer based with DAC).

Nakamichi CA5
Kenwood L-07 CII
Bryston 0.5
Forte F44
PS Audio 5.7
PS Audio 7.0
Meitner PA-6i
B&K MC-101
B&K Pro 10 MC
Quicksilver Remote Preamp (latest 6DJ8 version)
Cary AE-3 (standard, not signature model)
Audible Illusions Modulus L1
Sonic Frontiers SLF-1
Click to expand...

That's quite a list ..
Luck finding the guy whose listened to all of them ...

Some really good but also very very different preamps on that list ..
I'd lean in to the PS Audio's, the Cary, the Quciksilver, and for phono, the Aubible Illusions ..
For what amp ??
If it's strictly line level.. a passive is the best option unless the amp's difficult to drive...

Which ones have you actually listened to ??
 
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I'd really like to listen to the four listed by Akustic, based on reviews/reputation of PSA, Cary, and AI (I'm not at all familiar with Quicksilver).
Absolutely get the best line stage and phono stage you can get your hands on.
Once you hear the air, you can't go back to a lesser front end.
(Still have a pretty good Rotel 980 preamp on a secondary system and a Parasound P3 in a garage system).

My Audio Research LS7 is handily the best line stage I've had in the main rig.
 
DeFriend said:
I'd really like to listen to the four listed by Akustic, based on reviews/reputation of PSA, Cary, and AI (I'm not at all familiar with Quicksilver).
Absolutely get the best line stage and phono stage you can get your hands on.
Once you hear the air, you can't go back to a lesser front end.
(Still have a pretty good Rotel 980 preamp on a secondary system and a Parasound P3 in a garage system).

My Audio Research LS7 is handily the best line stage I've had in the main rig.
Click to expand...

I'd 2nd and 3rd that ..
Audio Research makes instruments for sound reproduction .. and perfects the art over time ..Been State of the Art forever.
Quicksilver has made pieces that push the the State of the Art ..
Audio Research is the Gold Standard because they've been doing it for longer and more consistently than anybody else ..
You can literally send them a piece from the 70's and they still have the parts ..

Your system is a recipe for good music .. That Audio Research and a Threshold make a really nice combination ..
 
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Akustic,
Am I nuts for really wanting to try a pair of PS Audio Stellar M700 monoblocs, or similar ones by Bel Canto?
I'd really like to try the additional horsepower (about triple the power of the S/200 Threshold while hopefully retaining similar high-current capability; PSA is not forthcoming with amperage ratings).
And at 23 watts idling, I'd never turn them off (although I've been leaving the Threshold powered up as outside temperatures have fallen).
The Threshold has a wider frequency response, so there's potentially a noticeable downside to moving to class D.
 
If you're going to get a Quicksilver, get the NON-remote linestage (uses 12AT7's). It's an amazing pre-amp and sounds quite a bit better than the Remote enabled 6DJ8 based Quicksilver pre-amp. I've A/B'd it against several far more expensive pre-amps (including my JC-2 and a TOTL Ayre) and it is the "real deal". If I didn't have to have a remote controlled pre-amp I would definitely own one (still under $1500 new I believe). And yes, Mike is still building them.
 
DeFriend said:
Akustic,
Am I nuts for really wanting to try a pair of PS Audio Stellar M700 monoblocs, or similar ones by Bel Canto?
I'd really like to try the additional horsepower (about triple the power of the S/200 Threshold while hopefully retaining similar high-current capability; PSA is not forthcoming with amperage ratings).
And at 23 watts idling, I'd never turn them off (although I've been leaving the Threshold powered up as outside temperatures have fallen).
The Threshold has a wider frequency response, so there's potentially a noticeable downside to moving to class D.
Click to expand...

I say audition them .. you certainly have the gear to compare them to ..
The trick these days is finding gear that can be auditioned ..

Pieces at this level are individualized instruments ..and it takes some time listening to get to the yea or nay part ..
I seriously miss the audio shops ..they disappeared.
I know very little about the newer gear because of that ..
 
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