What is the Best of the currently avaiable Pre Amplifiers with out going overboad
Comments
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Within the last year I upgraded my AVR pre/pro to the Onkyo SC5509, and have been very pleased with it so far. There was an immediate and obvious improvement in sound quality over the AVR, which is the main concern to me. I just use it as a pass through for video. It might not have all the bells and whistles you want, but at $2500 it is less expensive than your range.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580PRS5509/Onkyo-PR-SC5509.html?tp=47509&awkw=45594000025&awat=pla&awnw=g&awcr=16717186465&awdv=c
That is a very nice unit...I would think it would cost much much more to move past it in features and in SQ. also, Audyssey MultEq XT32 is not found on a lot of units.Polkie2009 wrote: »+1 Your Onkyo pre/pro is gorgeous Blue Fox. Talk about a solid looking unit, love all those XLR's!
Myself, I ran accross a used older Onkyo PR-SC886 pre/pro at a nice price and was seriously considering the unit.
http://www.uk.onkyo.com/en/products/pr-sc886-35025.html
However, then I started down the mental game of wondering how it would compare with the right amps to the Elite SC unit I plan to get....I wish I could play with both.2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2 -
Audyssey sounds best when its off anyway.Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
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I keep reading that MultEq XT32 is much more improved in terms of the end result. Some rooms have more errors than others. I've yet to play with it.
What issues did you have with it?2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2 -
I keep reading that MultEq XT32 is much more improved in terms of the end result. Some rooms have more errors than others. I've yet to play with it.
What issues did you have with it?
XT32 is the first room correction on mainstream brand AVRs and pre/pros where I prefer it on for music. If you have not tried XT32 in your system you really should. I would put it on a similar level as Anthem's ARC. I would no longer think of getting an AVR or pre/pro that did not have that level of room correction. -
It can't work, everyone has different hearing. Unless I can upload the results of my most recent hearing exam. Other than setting distance and level. It will suck the life right out. Its a compromise over several seating positions, I prefer my seat to sound the best it can. No compromise. What's the point of using good speakers and amps just to have a dsp changing the way it sounds. I tried all of the tricks for better results but to no success. I'm sure it may help some gear sound better in some rooms and every ones mileage will vary.Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
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Looks like both Marantz 8801 and Yamaha CX A5000 in some spotlight as of now
not sure if YPAO is off same levels as Audyessy -
For a pre/pro take a look at Arcam, noted for their excellent sound quality.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 -
jeremymarcinko wrote: »It can't work, everyone has different hearing. Unless I can upload the results of my most recent hearing exam. Other than setting distance and level. It will suck the life right out. Its a compromise over several seating positions, I prefer my seat to sound the best it can. No compromise. What's the point of using good speakers and amps just to have a dsp changing the way it sounds. I tried all of the tricks for better results but to no success. I'm sure it may help some gear sound better in some rooms and every ones mileage will vary.
I am curious if you have tried a unit with XT32.
While people do have different hearing, that is irrelevant. Neutral/accurate is neutral/accurate regardless of your hearing. Now not everyone prefers neutral/accurate as taste varies and that is fine.
Unless you treat your room perfectly, you are always going to have room effects that limit the performance of your set-up. Really good room correction can limit those effects. Room correction can not make bad speakers good, but it can help the limitations of your room from making your good speakers sound bad. -
Well, the old rule still aplies today..."He who equalizes least, equalized best!" Those with rooms that muck up the sound the least are the lucky bunch. However, what's the point of having good 2.1, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.2, etc speakers, subs and amps and have the ROOM change the way it sounds? Subs tend to sound boomy in many rooms and can most times sound better with just a little bit of placement, level, and phase tweaking alone. However, with a more powerful tool available I'm sure things can get even better.jeremymarcinko wrote: »What's the point of using good speakers and amps just to have a dsp changing the way it sounds.
Some speak of Audyssey XT having a diffussed sound. However, I've read over and over again how some say the XT32 and more resolution and they even like it for 2 Ch listening. There are SO many factors that can affect the sound and there are factors in getting Audyssey to correct ones room to their liking. There are no one solution for all.2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2 -
Pulled trigger on Halo A51
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2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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disneyjoe7 wrote: »Have you considered doing a pre / HT system? A system to do 2 channel and 5.1+ or so. A bit cheaper and maybe better 2 channel, the pre would need to be a HT bypass but.....
I didnt get this before as i am not sure what you are saying....
Now that i get it.. i am planning on going in this route to have a better stereo quality...
So the primary requirement would best stereo with HT bypass and may be a onboard DAC
What are you using ? any suggestions? -
2 channel pre amps don't have dacs, that's why they call them separates. Normally you use the dac that's built into your source such as a CD player, or you buy a separate dac.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
2 channel pre amps don't have dacs, that's why they call them separates. Normally you use the dac that's built into your source such as a CD player, or you buy a separate dac.
Yup searched and found only one which is at hefty price tag...
I think i should keep it simple and just get pure pre pro specially for SQ/stereo. -
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PTNOVAPRE
Musical Fidelity has been putting USB DACs on most their recent preamps/integrated amps/headphone amps. They also have the older CD/Pre, which I owned for a while and highly recommend. MF also has HT bypass on their pres and integrateds (and usually a phono stage).
Bryston has a DAC option for their preamps.
I'm sure there are more. So, they can be found, but you may be better off getting a pre that you like the sound of and has HT bypass and adding a DAC later.Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
Backburner:Krell KAV-300i -
but you may be better off getting a pre that you like the sound of and has HT bypass and adding a DAC later.
I think thats the route i will go... keep things seperate -
Yup searched and found only one which is at hefty price tag...
I think i should keep it simple and just get pure pre pro specially for SQ/stereo.
Agree, don't sell short what a quality pre/pro can offer up in sound quality. Sure, some pre's come with a usb dac but usually those are limited along with limited connections. A good HT pre/pro will have a substantially better dac and analog output stage over most run of the mill receivers.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
A good HT pre/pro will have a substantially better dac and analog output stage over most run of the mill receivers.
problem is if we go with HT pre/pros like Marantz, Onkyo, Yamaha..... they have to much tech in to them not sure if they have proper justice for stereo SQ. Jack of all trades master of none.? -
+1 , I think you right Tony, most of these better HT pre/pro are around $2500 and up. I'd like to think they have a very nice quality DAC and analog output stage in them. I've also noticed some have bought the Oppo 105 player for it's DAC capabilities.Agree, don't sell short what a quality pre/pro can offer up in sound quality. Sure, some pre's come with a usb dac but usually those are limited along with limited connections. A good HT pre/pro will have a substantially better dac and analog output stage over most run of the mill receivers. -
problem is if we go with HT pre/pros like Marantz, Onkyo, Yamaha..... they have to much tech in to them NOT SURE if they have proper justice for stereo SQ. Jack of all trades master of none.?
Exactly. You are NOT SURE because you haven't even listened to your system yet! lol. Read my reply in your other thread.
In case you missed it:Yea, the best way to get the "best of both worlds" is just to have (2) separate systems. See my sig.
But yes, many people use a 2-channel preamp with HT bypass in their HT rigs, and I think that would be a very nice alternative.
My suggestion to you is to wait until you get all the other gear you're amassing right now, and then just listen for a while. I mean "a while" as in weeks. Play with speaker placement, AVR settings, etc, and just see what you think.
The whole point of adding or swapping out equipment is to alter the sound to your liking. You won't know what you want to alter about the sound until you listen! Once you listen, you may be perfectly satisfied... if not, you'll need to determine a very specific attribute of the sound that you want to change. You will then decide what gear to add or swap based on the specific way that you want to change the sound.
Hope this helps.2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's -
Falcon,
Your point is taken and yes I am done with my purchases.
Waiting on the amp and subwoofer to set everything up.
But I would like to do more educated and thorough purchase for pre pro once I am ready to buy one and hence this thread. -
Falcon,
Your point is taken and yes I am done with my purchases.
Waiting on the amp and subwoofer to set everything up.
But I would like to do more educated and thorough purchase for pre pro once I am ready to buy one and hence this thread.
Yea I feel you, and I'm not trying to bust your chops... it's just that you wouldn't buy a pair of shoes before knowing how big the foot is, ya know?2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's -
falconcry72 wrote: »Yea I feel you, and I'm not trying to bust your chops... it's just that you wouldn't buy a pair of shoes before knowing how big the foot is, ya know?
I got you.. No offense taken...
I generally spend a long time in forums before i buy any product but this time every thing went little fast track...bought speakers ....to back them up -- amps and cables....
Rest of the stuff can be taken little slower ...i am way out of my budget anyway.... -
i am way out of my budget anyway....
That happens a lot around here.....LOLPolitical 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 -
That happens a lot around here.....LOL
Looks like audiophobia is directly proportional to how much broke, one is ... -
So just to get started on a right path... i would strike of all my tech spec mentioned in my first post.
So do you have any other pre pro suggestions which are basically oriented/dedicated to music alone and has HT pass through. -
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Just realised i am using the word Pre Pro instead of pre Amp.
Learned some thing new today... Thanks to Audio Guru -
Just realised i am using the word Pre Pro instead of pre Amp.
Learned some thing new today... Thanks to Audio Guru
To me, "preamp" is a broader term than "pre/pro". There are lots of types of preamps, including two-channel analog only ones as well as multi-channel, A/V switching/decoding ones. So basically a pre/pro is a type of preamp, but it's specific to A/V processors.2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's -
falconcry72 wrote: »To me, "preamp" is a broader term than "pre/pro". There are lots of types of preamps, including two-channel analog only ones as well as multi-channel, A/V switching/decoding ones. So basically a pre/pro is a type of preamp, but it's specific to A/V processors.
Yup, Ideally i hope to replace my AVR with Pre Pro for HT and Pre Amp for Stereo with HT by pass
and add a DAC in the mix....
