Preamp Advice

dcmartinpc
dcmartinpc Posts: 844
edited November 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
OK, so I am looking for a Pre Amp for my 2 channel system. I will be running a Parasound HCA-3500 with my upgraded SDA 1C's with upgraded crossovers and RDO 194's. I am currently running a Yamaha AVR as my pre amp and KNOW I can find something better. What would be a good quality preamp for this setup. Should I be looking at tubes or Solid State? I am currently thinking about the Adcom GFP-750 that TOOLFORLIFEFAN has for sale on here.

I have been doing a lot of digging and researching, but would just like to find some opinions of folks on here...

Thanks!!!

Don
Living Room: Adcom GFP-750 (Upgraded), Squeezebox Touch, Oppo BDP-83, Pioneer DV-79AVi, Parasound HCA-3500 (Upgraded), SDA SRS 2 P/B (Gimpod, Sonicaps, & Mills)

Theater: Denon 4311ci, Oppo BDP-93, Parasound HCA-2205+HCA-2200II, Polk LSi9, LSiC, LSiFX, LSi7, Custom 18" TC Sounds sub with 2 18" PR, Sharp XV-Z12000, Pioneer Kuro KRP-500M (isf Enabled)

Bedroom: HK AVR354, Pioneer DV-47a, Parasound HCA-1500a, Polk LSi9
Post edited by dcmartinpc on
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Comments

  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited November 2010
    Did you do a search because it gets praise all over CP. It's an outstanding pre from a great seller. Not even a question, get it.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • dcmartinpc
    dcmartinpc Posts: 844
    edited November 2010
    I have done some looking. And yes I did see its praises being sung everywhere :) It is just a big bite financially and I want to be SURE it is the right choice...

    Don
    Living Room: Adcom GFP-750 (Upgraded), Squeezebox Touch, Oppo BDP-83, Pioneer DV-79AVi, Parasound HCA-3500 (Upgraded), SDA SRS 2 P/B (Gimpod, Sonicaps, & Mills)

    Theater: Denon 4311ci, Oppo BDP-93, Parasound HCA-2205+HCA-2200II, Polk LSi9, LSiC, LSiFX, LSi7, Custom 18" TC Sounds sub with 2 18" PR, Sharp XV-Z12000, Pioneer Kuro KRP-500M (isf Enabled)

    Bedroom: HK AVR354, Pioneer DV-47a, Parasound HCA-1500a, Polk LSi9
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited November 2010
    If you are not satisfied with it you could easily flip it no loss or even a profit.
    Great Pre.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2010
    If I was looking for a SS pre--the Adcom would be on my list.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • dcmartinpc
    dcmartinpc Posts: 844
    edited November 2010
    OK, so I was looking at the input sensitivity of the HCA-3500 and it is rated at 1.4V for 100 watt output and 2.25V for full output. From what I can find, the GFP-750 is only rated for 1.0V output. Is this correct? Would I be getting less than 100 watts out of my 3500?

    If someone could please help me understand this....

    Don
    Living Room: Adcom GFP-750 (Upgraded), Squeezebox Touch, Oppo BDP-83, Pioneer DV-79AVi, Parasound HCA-3500 (Upgraded), SDA SRS 2 P/B (Gimpod, Sonicaps, & Mills)

    Theater: Denon 4311ci, Oppo BDP-93, Parasound HCA-2205+HCA-2200II, Polk LSi9, LSiC, LSiFX, LSi7, Custom 18" TC Sounds sub with 2 18" PR, Sharp XV-Z12000, Pioneer Kuro KRP-500M (isf Enabled)

    Bedroom: HK AVR354, Pioneer DV-47a, Parasound HCA-1500a, Polk LSi9
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited November 2010
    Specs were rated at 1v. The input sensitivities are rather high so there would be no problem driving any amp. Also in passive mode the average CD output is 2v so you are fine there too.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • dcmartinpc
    dcmartinpc Posts: 844
    edited November 2010
    I think I am going to jump on this, and thank you for all the answers to my questions. Can someone explain a little the passive switch. When you bypass the gain stages, does the volume pot still work? Is there an advantage to bypassing the gain stages. Is there a sound improvement if you do use the gain stages? Thank you everyone for answering all of my dumb questions. I am just trying to absorb all I can :)

    Don
    Living Room: Adcom GFP-750 (Upgraded), Squeezebox Touch, Oppo BDP-83, Pioneer DV-79AVi, Parasound HCA-3500 (Upgraded), SDA SRS 2 P/B (Gimpod, Sonicaps, & Mills)

    Theater: Denon 4311ci, Oppo BDP-93, Parasound HCA-2205+HCA-2200II, Polk LSi9, LSiC, LSiFX, LSi7, Custom 18" TC Sounds sub with 2 18" PR, Sharp XV-Z12000, Pioneer Kuro KRP-500M (isf Enabled)

    Bedroom: HK AVR354, Pioneer DV-47a, Parasound HCA-1500a, Polk LSi9
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited November 2010
    Volume still works the same. Some prefer the passive pre sound, but most (from what I hear) prefer the active stages.

    adcom.com
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • dcmartinpc
    dcmartinpc Posts: 844
    edited November 2010
    Thank you Ben for all of your advice. I am going to be sending a PM off to TOOLFORLIFEFAN now...

    I still welcome any advice though :D

    Don
    Living Room: Adcom GFP-750 (Upgraded), Squeezebox Touch, Oppo BDP-83, Pioneer DV-79AVi, Parasound HCA-3500 (Upgraded), SDA SRS 2 P/B (Gimpod, Sonicaps, & Mills)

    Theater: Denon 4311ci, Oppo BDP-93, Parasound HCA-2205+HCA-2200II, Polk LSi9, LSiC, LSiFX, LSi7, Custom 18" TC Sounds sub with 2 18" PR, Sharp XV-Z12000, Pioneer Kuro KRP-500M (isf Enabled)

    Bedroom: HK AVR354, Pioneer DV-47a, Parasound HCA-1500a, Polk LSi9
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  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,068
    edited November 2010
    It really depends on the sound you're looking for. I heard my modded 1C's with a Parasound Halo Pre and power amp the other day and they brought out a lot of detail in the music but at the loss of the tube warmth and wider sound stage I enjoy.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited November 2010
    buy from a trusted source.
    do you own research and take your time to understand
    make your own decision and have a good time.

    WHen you buy an excellent piece of equipment
    you could always resell, upgrade or trade it should
    any conditions should change .
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