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The best vintage SS-preamp, to match with Mark Levinson No. 23.5

klangtausch

klangtausch

New Member
Hello AudioKarma experts.

I want to get a good solid-state preamp I can match well with my
"Mark Levinson No. 23.5" power amplifier and
"Infinity Renaissance 90" speakers.

I was thinking to get a Sansui CA-3000. ...but I don't know how well it can play together with the ML...
Could you recommend that combo?
I do like tone control options... and tend to enjoy a warm and musical sound.
High-quality phono and aux/CD stage would be important.

Any other suggestions?
Thanks so much. :)
 
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Thanks for the reply's so far. This Sony seems to be a beauty, will check into it a bit further. :)
Btw, I've tried a Mark Levinson JC-2 (with good modules)... I found the sound of it to be rather bland - and it's usability with just a volume and a balance knob not quite satisfying.
 
klangtausch said:
Hello AudioKarma experts.

I want to get a good solid-state preamp I can match well with my
"Mark Levinson No. 23.5" power amplifier and
"Infinity Renaissance 90" speakers.

I was thinking to get a Sansui CA-3000. ...but I don't know how well it can play together with the ML...
Could you recommend that combo?
I do like tone control options... and tend to enjoy a warm and musical sound.
High-quality phono and aux/CD stage would be important.

Any other suggestions?
Thanks so much. :)
Click to expand...

A period correct Mark Levinson preamp so you have two nice sounding components which are well matched.
 
If you do not go with an ML, then Yamaha C-1 if you can find one.
The line stage of the C-1 is difficult to match by modern or vintage preamps.
 
I am somehow pending more between a Sony Esprit pre vs a Sansui Definition pre... a tuff call :)
True, the Yamaha C1 up to C4 pre's are also tempting.
Intuitively I am not convinced by a Levinson pre as of yet, although as stated, it would likely make a good clean match...
 
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klangtausch said:
I am somehow pending more between a Sony Esprit pre vs a Sansui Definition pre... a tuff call :)
True, the Yamaha C1 up to C4 pre's are also tempting.
Intuitively I am not convinced by a Levinson pre as of yet, although as stated, it would likely make a good clean match...
Click to expand...
don't mix the C-1 in the same bucket with the other Cs from Yamaha. All nice, but different.
As far as ES, I have a TA-N88 here...Technically not an ES, but a masterpiece nonetheless ...but the mighty Sony sits in a box along with my other preamps, in favor of C-1 which keeps center stage in my setup. I think I am done searching for preamps.

yes, if I sound biased towards C-1, guilty as charged. That's because I am a "vfet sound" junkie :D
 
klangtausch said:
Intuitively I am not convinced by a Levinson pre as of yet, although as stated, it would likely make a good clean match...
Click to expand...

The 23.5 is a great amp. Never heard their preamps but I do own a Marantz 7t pre that I find very musical. I've paired it with Pass class A amps and a Bedini amp with excellent results... surprising ones at that and I'm a tube lover.
 
I've got the little brother - No. 27. I've recapped it and serviced it, so it's working well, and I've used it with 8-9 different preamps. The ones it sounds best with are Threshold FET Ten/e High Level in balanced mode, FET Ten/e HL unbalanced, Spectral DMC10, Wyn Palmer diy preamp, and modified Apt Holman. Also really nice with it is a modified Adcom GFP-750.

These are in order, but the separation is very slight, so I use primarily the FET Ten/e HL because the balanced mode sounds just a little better to both my wife and myself.

My Mark Levinson No. 38 preamp is from the same era as the No. 27 amp, but the two lack some of the higher frequency detail and lower frequency definition of the other preamp combinations. The 38 is used with a Nakamichi PA7AII and a Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000 to good effect. The ones that don't sound that great with the No. 27 include two different Audible Illusions tube preamps, and interestingly, my Accuphase P200, which I now use only with my tube mono block amps.
 
Thank you all for the insightful replies. It's much appreciated!

I do have the Thresholds in mind and will give them another look, it's really good to know they can match with ML.
I'll check the Yamaha C1 as well again, a rare beauty it seems. My CD player is a Yamaha CD-S2100, so that would suit...
but I have the impression that Yamaha tends to be a bit more on the analytical side of sound... which is not my fav. direction... I might be wrong though.

Concrete contenders:
Sansui CA-3000 vs. Yamaha C1 vs. Threshold FET Ten/e vs. Sony TA-e88

One more question:
Besides the sound aesthetics, generally speaking, are there any technicals specifications to better be aware of in order to match a preamp well to my power amp (ML No.23.5)?

And: Anything which would speak against the Sansui CA-3000?
 
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