A good Pre-Amp

PolkClyde
PolkClyde Posts: 662
edited December 2010 in Electronics
I'm looking for a good pre-Amp to buy,you guys have any suggestion?

Thanks
PolkAudioClyde
Post edited by PolkClyde on
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited December 2010
    Budget?
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited December 2010
    Tube or SS
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
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    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2010
    Tube or SS ?--If tubed,,might I suggest a 6SN7 based tube pre.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2010
    Preamp or pre/pro?
    Jake
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  • dcoil
    dcoil Posts: 153
    edited December 2010
    zingo wrote: »
    Preamp or pre/pro?

    I hate to jump in here (always trying to get educated :smile:), but can you explain the difference betwen the preamp and pre/pro?
    SDA SRS modded: X’ovrd, de-polyed, inductorized, interconnectorized, re-posted, dynamited, RDO’d, spiked, gasketed, ringed (Larry's), and grill cloth blinged! Done this on my own? Not a chance. Thanks to Raife and all who forged easy to follow upgrades. At least a 100% improvement in sound and my personal listening pleasure! :cheesygrin:Pass XP-10 preamp, Parasound A21 amp, Pioneer Elite DV-58AV (Ric Shultz modded), Audioquest Sky IC's, No longer need my Sunfire sub after mods...
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited December 2010
    A preamp is a line or phono gain stage between source and amp. A pre/pro (usually for HT) does some other kind of processing (the "pro" part of pre/pro).
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited December 2010
    george daniel wrote: »
    Tube or SS ?--If tubed,,might I suggest a 6SN7 based tube pre.


    +1, then throw some treasure varients in for magic
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited December 2010
    thanks guys,for all your answers
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited December 2010
    Lasareath wrote: »
    Just Good or Great? th


    Here is a great one:

    http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_7_4/adcom-gfp-750-preamplifier-11-2000.html

    They go for around $600 to $700 used

    That's the one That I want,but it's hard to find.
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
    edited December 2010
    Melos SHA-1.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • fishbones
    fishbones Posts: 947
    edited December 2010
    I'm getting ready to list a Cary SLP-30 tube pre. It is a fantastic sounding pre - unless you have SDA's (reversed polarity needed at terminals).
    ..... ><////(*>
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,899
    edited December 2010
    Clyde, haven't you been listening to Ted? You need tubes.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited December 2010
    TroyD wrote: »
    Melos SHA-1.

    BDT

    The bar standard. Another solid would be a Anthem Pre2L.

    Polarity is up to the owner, even if designed in reverse and will work regardless of what is chosen.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • fishbones
    fishbones Posts: 947
    edited December 2010
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Polarity is up to the owner, even if designed in reverse and will work regardless of what is chosen.

    Actually it cancels out the SDA effect. I tried it.
    ..... ><////(*>
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited December 2010
    Are we talking about SDA loudspeakers? Or just a preamplifier? I've not noticed any SDA cancellation personally but everyone's rig is different.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • fishbones
    fishbones Posts: 947
    edited December 2010
    My Cary unit requires that you switch the polarity at the speaker terminals because of the circuitry design of the unit. Doing this on the 1C's cancelled the SDA effect. When I'd hook it up normal, then it sounded out of phase. Bypassing the unit and hooking directly to a CDP brought the SDA effect back instantly. So either way it doesn't work with the SDA's. But, it's an awesome sounding unit.
    ..... ><////(*>
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  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 909
    edited December 2010
    vc69 wrote: »
    A preamp is a line or phono gain stage between source and amp. A pre/pro (usually for HT) does some other kind of processing (the "pro" part of pre/pro).

    I'm actually glad someone asked this question, because I thought they were one and the same :redface:

    So is it safe to say that a pre would be mostly for 2ch listening and a pre/pro, as you said, is more HT focused? Just wanted to make sure understand correctly. :smile:

    BTW:Happy NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!
    Living Room 7.1 HT Rig:

    M70 | CS2 | M60 | Atrium5 - Surr. | SUB - Emotiva ULTRA12 + Tara Labs sub cable | Pioneer Elite VSX-52 | Parasound HCAs 1000A | Sony BDP-S790 | Belkin PureAV PF60 | MIT Exp2 Wires

    Bedroom 5.0 HT Rig (Music/Movies/Gaming) :

    LSi9 | LsiC | Lsi/fx | Marantz SR7002 | NAD T955 | Sony BDP-S360 | Belkin PureAV PF30 | AQ Blue Racer II ICs & AQ Type 4 wires | PS3
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  • fishbones
    fishbones Posts: 947
    edited December 2010
    Lietuvis91 wrote: »
    So is it safe to say that a pre would be mostly for 2ch listening and a pre/pro, as you said, is more HT focused?

    Exactly!
    ..... ><////(*>
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    Clyde, haven't you been listening to Ted? You need tubes.
    Tubes are for tires. :tongue:
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,650
    edited December 2010
    Face wrote: »
    Tubes are for tires. :tongue:

    LOL,or target practise.
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  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 909
    edited December 2010
    fishbones wrote: »
    Exactly!

    Thank you, sir!
    Living Room 7.1 HT Rig:

    M70 | CS2 | M60 | Atrium5 - Surr. | SUB - Emotiva ULTRA12 + Tara Labs sub cable | Pioneer Elite VSX-52 | Parasound HCAs 1000A | Sony BDP-S790 | Belkin PureAV PF60 | MIT Exp2 Wires

    Bedroom 5.0 HT Rig (Music/Movies/Gaming) :

    LSi9 | LsiC | Lsi/fx | Marantz SR7002 | NAD T955 | Sony BDP-S360 | Belkin PureAV PF30 | AQ Blue Racer II ICs & AQ Type 4 wires | PS3
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited December 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    Clyde, haven't you been listening to Ted? You need tubes.

    F1nut,I have the carvers silver 7t mono amps. would tube(s) pre-Amp be a good choice with the carvers? I'm looking at The Adcom GFP- 750,that's a SS amp,right?
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,650
    edited December 2010
    PolkClyde wrote: »
    I'm looking at The Adcom GFP- 750,that's a SS amp,right?
    Great preamp and yes it is SS using only a pair of Mosfets for it's active gain stage.It's essenially an economy version of Pass's Aleph P unit.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited December 2010
    +1 on the GFP-750, but you should also listen to some of the others suggested above. I like doro's Anthem choice as well...a very sweet sounding pre!

    Good Luck!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited December 2010
    cnh wrote: »
    +1 on the GFP-750, but you should also listen to some of the others suggested above. I like doro's Anthem choice as well...a very sweet sounding pre!

    Good Luck!

    cnh

    I agree, I've heard both and the Anthem is a step up from the 750, especially in mid range detail.
    Ask Lasareath, as he has had both of these in his system.
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  • Audioquest
    Audioquest Posts: 104
    edited December 2010
    PolkClyde wrote: »
    F1nut,I have the carvers silver 7t mono amps. would tube(s) pre-Amp be a good choice with the carvers? I'm looking at The Adcom GFP- 750,that's a SS amp,right?

    That would be a great choice. I used to have a pair of that same amp and thought they were really strident and bright with no character at all. A nice tube amp might be the ticket. The Adcom is SS not tube. Find a used Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 sig, which has a nice liquid sound and lots of detail with the right tube. They are also relatively inexpensive and hold their value in case you don't like it. There are other good/better ones as well, but most that equal or better are more $$$.

    Sonic%20F%20preamp.jpg
    HT: Polk SDA SRS 2.3 main fronts, Klipsch RC-25 center channel, Polk RTi-150 rears, M&K V1B sub, Denon AVR-5800, Samsung 52" LCD, Sony BDP-S550

    2 Channel: Carver ALS Platinum, Audio Research LS-2B preamp, Counterpoint SA-100 amplifier, Integra CD player, Denon SL7D tt, TC750 phono pre, Nikko tuner
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2010
    I would look for a 6SN7 tubed pre,,like a Rogue such a Carl has,,I actually listened to one with a pair of 9T's and it really matched up very well and provided a smoother sound and a great soundstage.Good luck.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited December 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    Clyde, haven't you been listening to Ted? You need tubes.

    Have you guys heard Ted's rig? wow, every time I go to his house it sounds better and better, with the kind of music we listen too.The sound is clear with a lot of detail,even the bass is good now(without a sub). my musical taste is from James Taylor to James Brown.Ted's taste is a little more laid back then mine.he has introduce me to a lot of good music.I love country music but I also like to get funky sometimes... GOOD GOD.
    PolkAudioClyde
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  • PolkClyde
    PolkClyde Posts: 662
    edited December 2010
    I also like to add,you guys ears are more educated than mine.right now I can't hear a difference between SS or tubes.they all sounds great to me.I know this is debatable,but the most important component in the system,IMO are the Speakers. :) thanks guys,maybe ted will sell me his Tube pre-amp, not likely.
    PolkAudioClyde
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