No BS pre amp

lightman1 · February 2016

Well...after a few weeks with the pre-amp that came with the new rig, in a short description... it sucks.
Throw something out there that might work with the Jolida DAC/T and the Emerald Physics CS2p speakers. The amps are decent. Not stellar. I know the speakers have more in them, just need something to bring it out.
Have at it you hacks.
Realistic Bob..
I'm looking at you buddy. Make me proud.

TNHNDYMAN · February 2016

How about a Parasound P/LD 2000? Need to find a home for mine.

tonyb · February 2016

What do ya have as a pre now Russ ?

lightman1 · February 2016

DSkip wrote: »

http://www.atma-sphere.com/Products/#UV-1

Saw that one Skip, she's a beauty!

tonyb wrote: »

What do ya have as a pre now Russ ?

DSpeaker anti mode 2.0...meh..

marvda1 · February 2016

http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/UltraVerve-Preamplifier.htm

BlueMDPicker · February 2016

Build one of these:

transcendentsound.com/Transcendent_Sound_Grounded_Grid_Preamp.html

tonyb · February 2016

That's not really a pre amp in my book Russ. How much ya want to spend without Linda taking you out to the shack for a beatin' ?

lightman1 · February 2016

tonyb wrote: »

That's not really a pre amp in my book Russ. How much ya want to spend without Linda taking you out to the shack for a beatin' ?

Couple grand. Yep it's more of an EQ/DAC. Too many bells and whistles.

lightman1 · February 2016

marvda1 wrote: »

http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/UltraVerve-Preamplifier.htm

In the ballpark, Marv. Thanks!

lightman1 · February 2016

BlueMDPicker wrote: »

Build one of these:

transcendentsound.com/Transcendent_Sound_Grounded_Grid_Preamp.html

Choice! Heard a lot of good things about them. On the list, Mr Picker.

Mikey081057 · February 2016

Halo JC2? If too much get a trial of the P5 and see if you like it... It could save you a G.... That's a lot of toenail polish

marvda1 · February 2016

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/tube-power-modules-belles-22a-tube-solid-sate-hybrid-line-stage-preamp-2016-01-27-preamplifiers-13090-bayberry-ny

tratliff · February 2016

http://www.tmraudio.com/product/tmr-1901

Can't go wrong with a Cary.

BlueMDPicker · February 2016

lightman1 wrote: »

DSpeaker anti mode 2.0...meh..

Highly reviewed a few years back. What is it not doing for you?

lightman1 · February 2016

BlueMDPicker wrote: »

lightman1 wrote: »

DSpeaker anti mode 2.0...meh..

Highly reviewed a few years back. What is it not doing for you?

It doesn't have that depth or smoothness of say a Dodd or Cary pre. A buddy of mine brought over his older Carver C2 and we put it in place of the other. Brought a little more life into it. Of course I've given it the benefit of the doubt. New stuff takes a while to "cook". The sound hasn't changed for the better. Tied new IC, speaker cables, voodoo. It just falls flat. Turned off the room correction, turned on correction and re- calibrated the room. Not much difference.
We ran the Jolida through his Cary set into the new speakers and magic noise came into the room.
Just checking out other gear. Needs more.

tonyb · February 2016

Gotcha bro. Can't go wrong with a Cary as others said, but there are way too many out there that can bring audio righteousness .

The Rhumba making the rounds is one, Belles is also a very musical pre. Joule, Vac, VTL, Bat and Rogue are a little less lush that the Cary's and Joule's of the world, but have dynamics to spare.

Tell ya what, for a nice pre that won't break the bank, the Cary DJS can be had under a g-note. Just make sure it's the DJS, that's been well taken care of. I might look for a Joule 150 mk2 or higher if you want to push it towards 2500.

lightman1 · February 2016

Thanks Tony. I've eyeballed the Cary and VTL for a while and those two seem to rise to the top all the time. Heard the Belle's canto(?) on an anthem powered rig. Tasty tunage coming out of a pair of Focal bookies.

lightman1 · February 2016

Brain po ot! It was a bel canto pre.....just for clarity sake.

BlueMDPicker · February 2016

lightman1 wrote: »

Just checking out other gear. Needs more.

Have you ever used a passive preamp in the system as a baseline, or no preamp for that matter with an attenuated source capable of driving your amp? I did that years ago after going through several highly touted preamps. It's an ear opener.

I like the linestage in all of my systems to be the most neutral and transparent piece in the signal path. The two preamps I've owned, and kept, over the last decade are the Carver Research Lightstar Direct (balanced, passive) and the PS Audio GCP 200 (100% analog input to output) because they fit the bill.

Good luck with your search. It's always a fun experience.

voltz · February 2016

Vincent Audio SA 31MK Hybrid Stereo Preamplifier or SA T7 Tube Preamp

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=VISA31MK

orhttp://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=VISAT7

deronb1 · February 2016

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

How about a Parasound P/LD 2000? Need to find a home for mine.

Had a pl/d 1100 pre for a while. Really, really good. I imagine the 2000 is a tad better.

Mikey081057 · February 2016

It's like 900 better!!!

deronb1 · February 2016

Mikey081057 wrote: »

It's like 900 better!!!

Ha!....math

Mikey081057 · February 2016

deronb1 wrote: »

Mikey081057 wrote: »

It's like 900 better!!!

Ha!....math

maff is my strong smoot

erniejade · February 2016

What kind of sound do you like? Your speakers are more on the analytic side and the jolida is on the warmer side. I haven't heard the 2.0 so I cannot comment on it.

Are you looking for more bloom out of the speakers? Are you looking for more mid or tame down the top? Speed?

I agree with the Rhumba, Ultraverve, Cary and Joule suggestions but it depends on what you like?

erniejade · February 2016

I almost forgot, don't the emmies need a dsp like the 2.0 or do you have the dsp 2.4 with them?

RamZet · February 2016

I really enjoyed Sigma pre amp by Classé.

But for less money Rotel makes a solid pre-amp, nothing fancy.

SCompRacer · February 2016

Some EP speaker guys like the Audio Horizon 2.2.

lightman1 · February 2016

erniejade wrote: »

I almost forgot, don't the emmies need a dsp like the 2.0 or do you have the dsp 2.4 with them?

Yes it has the DSP 2.4. It's set at a crossover point of 170hz. It's adjustable through a download link. The mids and top end are what's falling short of my expectations. Just needs a lot more feeling in them.
Your statement of being analytical is spot on, Ernie.

tonyb · February 2016

Ernie has a good ear, that was also my take on them. If you like what your friend brought over on them, why not just mirror that ? Which Cary pre did he bring ?

lightman1 · February 2016

Not sure Tony. Older model tuber. But that's what I'm shooting for. I'm in touch with the dealer and working on a swap deal. Maybe do some tweaking of the x-over.
And cables.... Effin cables!!
Trying to get a good baseline and take from there on the fine tuning.
Love the speakers, but they're not living up to their potential.
Thanks for the input, fellers!!

No BS pre amp

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