Name some of your favorite stereo preamplifiers.

tygr

tygr

Audiophoole
I'm going to be in the market for a new (or more than likely used) solid state preamp soon.

Please name some of your favorites, tell us why, and post pics if you have them.

MY preference will have a MM phono stage and a remote would be nice though not necessary.
 
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I like the Parasound P/LD-1100 preamp. It's a solid state John Curl designed unit that operates in Class A. It comes with a remoteand the the only real downside is no Phono section.
 
Technics SU-A2.
There. is. no. better.

A shot of the beast (not mine):
xn96rb.jpg


Want one? Forget it; chances are you never will (probably at most 300 units ever made).


_____________


Other than that the SU-A4 is also great (I am using one at home).

Here's an older picture of it:

May be a dull-looking unit for many people (not for me though).
However, the real magic happens inside!


Outstanding build quality as well:




Yes, I am biased and officially admit it.
 
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I tend to like big and showy, so meters and lots of switches and knobs make a pre-amp my kinda pre-amp. To that end, I like my Sansui CA-3000, and my Pioneer SPEC-1.

I can't say that they sound any better than the pre-amp in my old Advent 300 receiver, which I used as a pre for a while.
 
I recently picked up an SAE mark 1B the build quality is excellent.I wish I could find the owners manual.
 
BGW 103 - Simple, discrete, and to the point... No bells & whistles to oxidize and become resistors. Stepped attenuators for volume & balance...
 

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McIntosh C33 for its glorious phono section, superb build quality, well-designed and extremely flexible controls, and its way of just letting music flourish.

Kenwood Basic C2 for delivering 95% of the McIntosh's sound at a much lower price. Great MM and MC phono stage too.
 
I haven't yet heard an active preamp that I really liked. One of the local hifi gurus has a DIY (his own design) using 12B4 tubes with active loading that might be the exception -- but I've yet to hear a commercially marketed preamp that I'd care to use.

That said, I am using a DIY active preamp (design by Pete Millett, www.pmillett.com) nowadays to add some needed drive to the power amp in my 'real' hifi -- but I'd never claim it's world class; I use it because I have it and it met a need.
 
GAS Thaedra I (one) really floats my boat. Awesome build quality and very easy to work on if need be. All of the sheet metal is done on a press brake, no stampings of thin tin, all black anodized aluminum or nickel plated steel. All of the circuit boards are plug in and very easy to repair or as these forums like to do "recap". Also the knobs are solid aluminum for a great feel, not aluminum coated plastic. I forgot to mention the sound, it's the best I've ever owned, been at this for 40 years.

Craig
 
Sony ta-e9000es

You didn't mention price range or whether it had to have phono. No biggie.

My fave preamp so far is the Sony TA-E9000ES. Yes, it's an early surround pre/pro. But it sounds great in 2-channel and has a wonderful phono. And it has remote control (I'm using a Harmony), which for me is a 'Gotta Have'.

If it failed - I would buy another one with no hesitation (other than a hunt for the best price).

That's my yardstick - If I would buy it again.
 
for SS I like the Yamaha C-2x and the Nakamichi CA-7A.

For tube I like First Sound and Decware CSP3.
 
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