Looking for a cheap preamp

Joey_V
Joey_V Posts: 8,552
edited December 2005 in 2 Channel Audio
Do you guys have any recommendations? I'm looking for a preamp that is good to go to my Rotel RB1070... nothing expensive - I want to keep it under $300... used is preferred since I can get more for less.

Let me know...

I'll be running either LSi9s or some Martin Logan Vantage speakers.
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited December 2005
    B&K PT5

    Sells for around 250 + S
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2005
    Tube or SS? With or w/o phono section?
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,552
    edited December 2005
    SS without phono.

    What about the Rotel RC1070?
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • criverajr
    criverajr Posts: 1,675
    edited December 2005
    Joey,

    Check out the one I have for sale, I have run it with the Lsi9, and the SDA's sounds very good, I even dropped the price. Sorry for the shameless plug. It's also a Rotel. Let me know, for price it can be beat IMHO.

    CRj
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2005
    +1000
    CRj has just the thing for you, great deal.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited December 2005
    Interested in a Yamaha C-85. Purchased new about 18 years (or so) ago. Don't know if it will fill the bill, but you are welcome to try it out no charge.

    Only bad thing is that it does not have a remote control.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited December 2005
    Nakamichi CA-5. IMO, a very underated pre-amp. About $1K new, superb build quality. No frills, just top notch performance. They can be had for around $200-300 used. I think there are a couple on Audiogon right now. I've had mine since new and have also owned an mid-level Adcom and the Nak is a much more neutral, revealing pre. You can't go wrong!

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • miner
    miner Posts: 1,305
    edited December 2005
    I second the Rotel RC-1070 - great combo with the RB-1070. A used can be had for $300 - ebay or Audiogon
    [
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited December 2005
    Parasound PHP 850. Used at $150 or less.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited December 2005
    good call, I used a parasound PHP 850 up until I went the tubed route. great pre, were a bargain even when they were new
    Living Room 2 Channel -
    Schiit SYS Passive Pre. Jolida CD player. Songbird streamer. California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC, DIY 300as1/a1 Ice modules Class D amp. LSi15 with MM842 woofer upgrade, Nordost Blue Heaven and Unity interconnects.

    Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
    Prometheus Ref. TVC passive pre, SAE A-205 Amp, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E50 DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Von Schweikert VR3.5 speakers.

    Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Mac Mini, Aiyma A07 Max (BridgedX2), Totem Mites
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,552
    edited December 2005
    Man.. the only RC1070 on the 'gon is from a guy with little feedback and he refuses to budge on the price... not even free shipping!

    No wonder his ad's been up for 21 days now.

    :rolleyes:
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited December 2005
    ***Chanting in the background at almost a whipser......Nakamichi....Nakamichi.....Nakamichi

    :p;):D:) .

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • criverajr
    criverajr Posts: 1,675
    edited December 2005
    Joey,

    This pre I have is just sitting here it would go nice in your set-up, shameless plug, check it out. 130.00 clams delivered is a no brainer. You did say cheap ;)

    Crj
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited December 2005
    thats a good point, I used a Rotel rsp960 for quite a while as well, very detailed, especially for the price.
    Living Room 2 Channel -
    Schiit SYS Passive Pre. Jolida CD player. Songbird streamer. California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC, DIY 300as1/a1 Ice modules Class D amp. LSi15 with MM842 woofer upgrade, Nordost Blue Heaven and Unity interconnects.

    Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
    Prometheus Ref. TVC passive pre, SAE A-205 Amp, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E50 DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Von Schweikert VR3.5 speakers.

    Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Mac Mini, Aiyma A07 Max (BridgedX2), Totem Mites
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2005
    See Criverajr's Pre!!!! Is This Thing On???
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,552
    edited December 2005
    Looking at criverajr's pre... but still looking at the rc1070..
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,552
    edited December 2005
    Just got the RC1070 for 299 + shipping on ebay. Used the 10% off coupon posted on the FM... thanks guys!


    Cant wait for the Rotel preamp to be placed atop my Rotel amp.... gonna be a cool back to school come-back in a few weeks.

    Next up.... SPEAKERS!
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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