~200 dollar preamp

youra6

Hi, ~200 dollar budget. Solid State, tube, doesn't matter. I do like that vintage 70's gear though

Integrated stereo amp is fine too!

Thanks. Can pay with PayPal or Amazon Payments.

My heatware:

http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=73174

I am also the same youra6 on overclock.net

zingo

My local Craigslist seems to always have some good preamp for the price range.

youra6

zingo wrote: »

My local Craigslist seems to always have some good preamp for the price range.

I'm living in a smaller city so the pickings are never too high. Some guy was selling a GFP 555 for 150 dollars, but that is way too high of an asking price for an older and mediocre Adcom unit.

onebadchad

I have a parasound CA 250 with pre outs. 100 plus shipping

youra6

onebadchad wrote: »

I have a parasound CA 250 with pre outs. 100 plus shipping

Isn't that Parasound unit a power amp?

onebadchad

It is, but has an excellent Pre-amp section, and pre outs, so you dont have to use the power section. And about the same size as most pre amps.

cnh

Welcome to Club Polk!

In that price range I'd look at an old Hafler or maybe one of the Onkyo P-3XX series. Should be able get either for well under 200 and have a decent pre for the price. OBChad also has a decent unit and he is correct about that. No reason you can't use that as a pre alone.

Good Luck!

cnh

youra6

cnh wrote: »

Welcome to Club Polk!

In that price range I'd look at an old Hafler or maybe one of the Onkyo P-3XX series. Should be able get either for well under 200 and have a decent pre for the price. OBChad also has a decent unit and he is correct about that. No reason you can't use that as a pre alone.

Good Luck!

cnh

Awesome. Thanks for your replies gentlemen. I'm definitely consider the Parasound, they make some good stuff.

Would the unit need to be recapped/serviced anytime soon?

What about a Dynaco PAS-3 tube pre at around that 200 dollar price range? It appears to be a stock one. I know it is highly regarded, but can anyone give me a more detailed assessment?

onebadchad

The Parasound is mid 80's it works fine now, It doesnt need capped now, but may at some point. Your looking for 100.00 preamp, I dont think your gonna find something new thats worth a crap in that range. I also have an Oknyo P-301 thats a lot newer with remote and books. works perfect for 100 plus shipping.

mhardy6647

... or you could consider investing 99 smackers, some batteries and a bit of solder...

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=220&rn=438&action=show_detail

onebadchad

12ax7?

youra6

onebadchad wrote: »

The Parasound is mid 80's it works fine now, It doesnt need capped now, but may at some point. Your looking for 100.00 preamp, I dont think your gonna find something new thats worth a crap in that range. I also have an Oknyo P-301 thats a lot newer with remote and books. works perfect for 100 plus shipping.

Well technically my budget is in the 250 range.

deronb1

What amp are you pairing the pre with? Could make all the difference in the world.

youra6

deronb1 wrote: »

What amp are you pairing the pre with? Could make all the difference in the world.

Either my Adcom GFA-535, or my Emotiva UPA-2

deronb1

Unless you are going to go with a tube pre, you might want to consider going with the same make pre as the amp. I just went through this, pairing an Adcom GFP 565 with a Kenwood Basic M2 amp. Sounded good enough, but I think there was an impedence issue as I could not turn it up past 9 o'clock without it getting crazy loud. Got an Adcom GFA 555 and made a world of difference. Now I hear EVERTHING and am quite frankly freaked out by it. :eek:

My point is that getting into seperates only exponetiates the possibilities of sound (good or bad). A safe bet is going with common manufacturers and then tweaking it from there. The guys that make this stuff do it for a living and they want people to buy THEIR stuff. They spend countless hours and dollars refining their products so they sound good TOGETHER. For the most part it does. This is not to say that you can't add a different piece and it won't sound good, but for what you are asking, this is what I am saying.

mhardy6647

deronb1 wrote: »

Unless you are going to go with a tube pre, you might want to consider going with the same make pre as the amp. I just went through this, pairing an Adcom GFP 565 with a Kenwood Basic M2 amp. Sounded good enough, but I think there was an impedence issue as I could not turn it up past 9 o'clock without it getting crazy loud...

That's not impedance, that's gain.

cnh

youra6 wrote: »

Either my Adcom GFA-535, or my Emotiva UPA-2

Any of the pres in my post above will sound OK with either of those units. I've used an Onkyo P-304 on an Adcom GFA-555 with good results. And I've heard Hafler's with other Adcoms that sound good as well. Parasounds would also work. There are enough people using those here?

Happy hunting.

mhardy, are there tubes in your pic above? I'm not sure--there seem to be two (maybe my eyes are going bad)? Never mind, I see the tubes in the kit...what was I thinking?

cnh

mhardy6647

The Bottlehead Quickie preamp uses two very vintage low-voltage tubes (3S4 - an old battery portable radio tube) in its single gain stage. It's a low gain preamp fo' sho' - it is also simple, cheap, infinitely tweakable, all Class A (duh) and it has a noiseless DC power supply.



http://www.nj7p.info/Common/Tube/SQL/Tube_query.php?Type=3S4

youra6

mhardy6647 wrote: »

The Bottlehead Quickie preamp uses two very vintage low-voltage tubes (3S4 - an old battery portable radio tube) in its single gain stage. It's a low gain preamp fo' sho' - it is also simple, cheap, infinitely tweakable, all Class A (duh) and it has a noiseless DC power supply.



http://www.nj7p.info/Common/Tube/SQL/Tube_query.php?Type=3S4

Appreciate the help gentlemen.

I'm not comfortable with a DIY kit since my soldering skills are iffy at best. The last thing I want is a 100 dollar
door stop.

I have looked at the GFA 565 as a preamp that may fit my budget. I've looked at many others as well.

deronb1

youra6 wrote: »

Appreciate the help gentlemen.

I'm not comfortable with a DIY kit since my soldering skills are iffy at best. The last thing I want is a 100 dollar
door stop.

I have looked at the GFA 565 as a preamp that may fit my budget. I've looked at many others as well.

I am using the GFA 565 right now. Great pre and very flexible. Unless you are using an Adcom amp, however, there may be an impedence issue that may not allow you to turn the volume knob up much before it starts getting VERY loud.

Learned that here, on this very forum. This is THEE (like THEE Ohio State University) place to learn stuff that is all audio. :cheesygrin:

youra6

deronb1 wrote: »

I am using the GFA 565 right now. Great pre and very flexible. Unless you are using an Adcom amp, however, there may be an impedence issue that may not allow you to turn the volume knob up much before it starts getting VERY loud.

Learned that here, on this very forum. This is THEE (like THEE Ohio State University) place to learn stuff that is all audio. :cheesygrin:

Really? I'm a huge Bucks fan myself. Meyer era starts tomorrow, cant wait. Unfortunately, I'll be going to Camp
Randall and watch the Badgers play tomorrow.

weitrhino

If you like the vintage look, why not consider the Carver C-1? It fits your price range, for sale regularly, vintage 80's design, very tweakable, and it's a proven performer with a phono stage.

rtart

Here's a deal....http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280961182050&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

chumlie

rtart wrote: »

Here's a deal....http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280961182050&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

Somebody stole that one. Didn't think it would last long.