Pre amp suggestions?

unc2701
unc2701 Posts: 3,587
edited March 2005 in Electronics
OK, so I've been using my brother's B&K Ref 50 for awhile now since he's been between houses (lucky me), but now I have to give it back. I had no issues with the B&K and it matched nicely with my Brystons, but it's seriously going to hurt going back to using my Yamaha as a pre. Any suggestions? So far I've checked out the B&K, Athem AVM20/ AVM30, Parasound (the one with the LCD that I can't afford and the one without the LCD that I can afford, but probably shouldn't spend that much on), Bryston Sp 1.7 (awesome sound, short on options, can get it at cost)...

I'm willing to sacrifice 2 channel music for HT use, since I'll be putting together a 2 channel rig sooner or later. What are some other brands I should check out? And if anyone says to check out Sony ES, I'll crawl through this monitor and kick your ****.
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
Post edited by unc2701 on
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Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,769
    edited March 2005
    Check out Sony ES.

    Go ahead and try it.
    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: 25,577
    edited March 2005
    The gear you have checked out thus far is top notch, why are you asking us? Obviously you are more educated then the typical consumer.

    You are in a bracket that Sony ES cannot compete, in regards to the AVR, although I personally love the gear otherwise. Why the poor ES comment? I am just wondering why you said what you said.....I know why I said it.
    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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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    I ask because actually hearing & playing with the gear is nothing like reading about it... and in NC you have to drive a ways between audio shops. There are a lot of guys here who have played with a lot of gear & I'm just looking for suggestions. As for Sony, yeah, I could go listen to it again, but at this point I'm so biased, I'd hate it no matter what.
    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
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited March 2005
    I have a B&K ref 10 pre amp for HT with remote and manuals and original box that I don't use. It doesn't have DTS however. I'm sure you can up grade it to DTS at B&K.

    I'll sell to you for $350 plus shipping in US only.

    Peter
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    Bike zappa- Cheap & quick... I like it. Let me check out the specs, upgradibility, etc. What year is it?
    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
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited March 2005
    I don't know the year. I have used it in my 2 channel system for 2 years. Very nice tuner. I can email you photos, but they are too large for this forum. The unit looks perfect 9/10.
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  • gregure
    gregure Posts: 871
    edited March 2005
    Personally dude, I 'd tell you to go with the B&K Ref 50 and never look back. It's one of the best preamps available. Why spend $4,,000 on the Parasound when you can have the B&K for 1500?
    If you're willing to spend that much, thought, you might want to look into Sunfire as well. Still, even if I had loads of cash, I'd stick w/ my B&K.
    Current System:

    Mitsubishi 30" LCD LT-3020 (for sale**)
    Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand (Rosewood)-Mains (with Audioquest Mont Blanc cables)
    CSi5-Center (for sale**)
    FXi3-surrounds (for sale**)
    Martin Logan Depth-Sub
    B&K AVR 507
    Pimare CD21-CD Player
    Denon 1815-DVD Player
    Panamax M5500-EX-Line Conditioner
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    Yeah I forgot to mention that I checked out a sunfire Theater Grand, too. It sounded great for HT, but while I was in the showroom, the guy changes sources and the thing pops loud as hell. I mean speaker blowing-type pop. And he's like "oh, we've got something hooked up wrong, it doesn't normally do that..." which sorta turned me off to the whole place- seemed a little shady and I don't know where the next closest dealer is. Anyhow, I was really happy w/ the Ref 50 and the price is right, but if anyone has another favorite I should check out, lemme know.

    Bikezappa- PMing you...
    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
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2005
    Why does everybody hate Sony??

    Ive used Sony for years and presently my computer, TV, DVD player, mini system (50 disc changer and Dolby 2.0 surround receiver), bookshelf speakers, surround speakers, VCR, camcorder, digital camera and photo printer are all Sony and have operated flawlessly.

    Its the same in car audio. Sony is equated with flea market brands. I just dont get it. I have yet to have a sub-par Sony product but yet most everybody I talk to think they suck.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited March 2005
    Actually I only have an issue with Sony amps- I like most their other gear and my issue is kinda like everyone around here hates Monster. Sony usually adverstises their wattage at .7% THD at 1 khz. Which means that the 20khz distortion is going to be more like 1-2%... which is where you start to worry about damaging speakers. So a 200 watt sony amp is roughly equivalent to a 120 watt Onkyo, Dennon, Yamaha, etc. Now playing with numbers pretty typical for your low end gear (think technics, aiwa), but they even do it on their ES line. By comparison, NAD & rotel usually rate their wattage at <0.03% for all freq; Yamaha, Dennon, onkyo are all around .06-.08%.

    Does this matter? Not really, if you going into it knowing that your sony will have less than zero headroom at its "rated" power, but I don't like it as a business practice.

    Subjectively, and this is biased by all the above, I also happen to think sony sounds like crap... But that's just an opinion, and some people might like the sound.
    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
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited March 2005
    The THD number simply means how hard the amp is being pushed to achieve those numbers. All this means is that Sony is using a higher number to make their amps look better.

    They rate their receivers at both 1 KHz and full bandwidth although its only 2 channels driven. Here. Theyre not using any false numbers, just using the ones that make them look best. I dont see them doing anything wrong.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • Ethancf
    Ethancf Posts: 458
    edited March 2005
    If you get a chance to demo any Parasound equipment, I would recommend it if it is in your budget. As far as Sony goes, I don't have any experience with the ES Pre/Pro gear, but their ES DVD players are superb!
    THE SYSTEM
    Polk Audio LSi25 Mains
    Polk LSiF/X Surrounds
    Polk Audio LSiC Center
    Definitive Technology PowerField 1800 Subwoofer
    Parasound Classic 7100 Pre/Pro
    Parasound 2205A Amplifier
    Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD Blu-ray Player
    Monster HTS 2600
    Microsoft XBox 360
    Samsung PN64D550 64" Plasma
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited March 2005
    Sony makes the best Tube TV, nice LCD projections and nice Laptops. Other than that, :rolleyes:
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited March 2005
    i want to see a Sony Playstation 2 ES :p PS2ES
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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