Budget 2 Channel

MillerLiteScott

I bought some gear from Doro to begin building a BUDGET 2 channel rig.

So far I have 2 Antique Sound Lab Wave AV-25DT's and a pair of Monitor 5's with some mods done by Doro.

I am looking for some suggestions for a budget pre-amp in the $200-$400 range.
Something with a phono stage/input is preferable.

tonyb

Thought I saw Gator selling some in the flea market for around 300 shipped.
Lots of choices in that price range going used.B&K might match well and I know someone had one in the FM.Congrats on the new toys!!

heiney9

Nakamichi Ca-5 or Ca-5 II.

Killer phono section, built like a tank and sounds simply awesome. The series I has no tone controls the series II has defeatable tone controls.

No affil but here's one on the 'gon

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1176242017

There are a few on the 'bay as well

H9

audiobliss

That's an awesome 'budget' 2 channel system! Congrats!

MillerLiteScott

^ Thanks guys.

I am looking into the Nakamichi C 5, Thanks H9

I am all ears for any other suggestions.

Another Question.

I have an older Technics Stereo Receiver that does not have any pre-outs but has tape record outs. Would that work as a pre-amp for my mono blocks untill I found a proper pre-amp?

audiobliss

The tape record outputs have a fixed volume. I.E. you won't be able to adjust the volume level with the reciever. So, unless you want the receiver to function as a switcher for your inputs, you'd be just as well off hooking your source straight to the monoblocks.

Other than that, I don't see why it wouldn't work.

MillerLiteScott

I did not even think of the volume issue. Thanks.

What about a computer/ iTunes (lossless) or even an iPod?

MLS

audiobliss

If you can get an adapter to go from a 1/4" mini plug to two RCA jacks, sure, either the computer or an iPod would work.

Of course, only for a temporary solution.

MillerLiteScott

I have the 1/4'' to RCA cable.

Am I doing some thing that could damage the amps? I don't know much about Tubes and I don't want to screw anything up before I even get a chance to listen to them properly.

MLS

audiobliss

No, you should be fine using whatever you want as a source.

BUT, make sure there's always a signal present when the amps are on. As I understand it, if you turn on your amp and there's no signal present, the amp is on wide open. According to my understanding, the signal a preamp sends to the amp tones down the amp's output. So, in other words, without that signal it's on full throttle. That's BAD for tube amps.

So just make sure there's always a signal present when the amps are on.

heiney9

I wouldn't chance it especially with tube amps. I wouldn't even do it with an SS amp and much more familar with how those operate. Waiting sucks............but it's the best alternative here until you hear for SURE you can do it w/o damage. DO the ASL's have a variable output control?

EDIT: I'm speaking of running the ASL's from the tape loop output.

RuSsMaN

Just get a multimeter, and make sure they are biased properly. Dump the chinese 6L6's and at least get something current production Russian in there - Sovtek 5881's work well in those little ASL amps.

Are the 12AT7's stock Chinese? Happy to send you a pair of NOS RCA to get you started, if you want.

Pre? http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1176482851 I believe it does have a phono section also.

audiobliss

Ok, now I'm confused. I know you can hook your source (CDP, DVDP, tuners, etc.) directly up to your amp. I ran my portable CDP (with variable volume out...headphone jack) directly to my ASL Wave 8's for quite a while with no troubles what so ever.

heiney9

audiobliss wrote:

Ok, now I'm confused. I know you can hook your source (CDP, DVDP, tuners, etc.) directly up to your amp. I ran my portable CDP (with variable volume out...headphone jack) directly to my ASL Wave 8's for quite a while with no troubles what so ever.

2 key words.....headphone jack and variable volume.

heiney9

AB-see my edit.

MillerLiteScott

I have the original Chinese tubes.

I have everything hooked up except power cords to the amps.

Maybe the best thing would be to pull my Yamaha out of my home theater system and just use that for a demo to myself.

What say you.

MLS

audiobliss

Why would the tape loop be any different? I also ran my ASL's directly off my Rotel RCD-02 for a short while, and it doesn't have a variable output. You just have to get used to the volume level.

I remember madmax or dangerboy started a thread a while back about bypassing your preamp altogether and just running your CDP directly to your amp.

I'm not saying there's no problem with it, but I still fail to see a possible problem.

RuSsMaN

It depends on the output voltage of the source.

heiney9

audiobliss wrote:

I'm not saying there's no problem with it, but I still fail to see a possible problem.

There's your oxymoron for the day . My point is why try something if you are not 100% sure if it can be done w/o damage. This isn't a cheap boom-box we are talking about here.

I'm also not saying it can't be done, but when in doubt err on the side of caution, IMHO. And yes, as Russ states it has to do with the output voltage of the source and the input sensitivity of the amp. Extremes on either component and it won't be a good thing!

dipiazza

Miller-

I have the Monarchy Audio Passive Pre which essentially just functions as a volume control. It has 1 input and 1 output. Its VERY bare bones but i bought it a while ago of the FM here and im not going to end up using it. I paid $30 for it. I could sell it to ya for $30 plus shipping to hold you over until you get something more permanent.

I'll post some pics if your interested...

-Jake

MillerLiteScott

I got to go deliver A piece of equipment for my wife I will be back.

dipiazza

Here's a few pics...

heiney9

dipiazza wrote:

Miller-

I have the Monarchy Audio Passive Pre which essentially just functions as a volume control. It has 1 input and 1 output. Its VERY bare bones but i bought it a while ago of the FM here and im not going to end up using it. I paid $30 for it. I could sell it to ya for $30 plus shipping to hold you over until you get something more permanent.

I'll post some pics if your interested...

-Jake

That might do the job. Not sure what the synergy between the passive and the ASL's will be. Only 1 way to find out and that's to try it. If it works for you it may be a permanent solution to your problem (no phono section). You can always buy a Parasound outboard phono pre-amp on the cheap.

dorokusai

Great pics! great suggestions from the previous crazy folks.

I'd also keep my eyes open for some vintage NAD 11xx series. Another choice with a great phono stage and simple design internally.

dipiazza

dorokusai wrote:

Great pics!

Stolen from another post of course!

reeltrouble1

Second the NAD 11xx series, bought one a few years ago from Doro that was once Russman's, there was a strange juju on it, but sounds great, still have it in a rig with some Monitor 10's, great sounding pre with a very nice phono section, lots of features you might not expect on such a pre.

RT1

MillerLiteScott

Dipiazza Thanks for the offer I just might take you up on that while I find a proper pre amp.

I think I will pull my Yamaha out and listen the speakers on that amp and the connect the tubes.

Safer and smarter but just a pain in the ****.

MLS

dipiazza

Cool. Offer isnt going anywhere, just let me know if you decide.

pblanc

Its OK to turn on tube amplifiers with no source attached. That's what you are often recommended to do when you bias the tubes. What you must NOT do is run your tube amp with no load (speakers, or some type of fixed or varible resistor) hooked up to its output posts. You run a high risk of frying the transformer(s). Like racing an engine with no load. If I temporarily disconnect my speakers from my amp, I always unplug the power cord first so it doesn't accidentally get turned on. If you always had to have a source hooked up to your tube amp, you would burn it out between CDs or LPs since there is virtually no signal going to it then (maybe a very low level of noise, depending on the quality of your source.

ben62670

I have an Adcom GTP-500 that has a phono out that also has a great tuner. I like the sound it has, and they can be had for $100-125 all day long on Ebay

dorokusai

That's not a bad suggestion either. The Adcom is decent from the GTP-500 thru the GTP-750 and might be a nice balance to the warmth of those tube amps.