Recommend A 2 Channel Pre Please

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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,766
    edited October 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote: »
    I was seriously considering it but I thought I would try a different brand alltogether since I have the Parasound amp to balance out the warmth there.

    You think Parasound amps are warm sounding? You definitely don't want to try tubes then. I think Parasound is very neutral sounding. Listen to a B&K amp if you want to hear a warm sounding solid state amp.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited October 2007
    billbillw wrote: »
    You think Parasound amps are warm sounding? You definitely don't want to try tubes then. I think Parasound is very neutral sounding. Listen to a B&K amp if you want to hear a warm sounding solid state amp.

    Compared to the Earthquake they are.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,644
    edited October 2007
    Chicomoralessxm wrote: »
    How much do these go for?

    Candela -- 800-1000

    Tempest -

    500
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,766
    edited October 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote: »
    Compared to the Earthquake they are.

    Ok, I see where you are coming from. Are you trying to get back to a brighter sound with a preamp? I hope not. I think you are hearing neutral with the Parasound Amp and possibly a little dulled by the PHP-850. A more revealing preamp should make things more lively without being bright.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited October 2007
    billbillw wrote: »
    Ok, I see where you are coming from. Are you trying to get back to a brighter sound with a preamp? I hope not. I think you are hearing neutral with the Parasound Amp and possibly a little dulled by the PHP-850. A more revealing preamp should make things more lively without being bright.

    Yes. That's it exactly. Not brighter at all (yuck:eek:). Less veiled perhaps.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • couch21
    couch21 Posts: 13
    edited October 2007
    My vote's for Rotel.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited October 2007
    IMO, the Melos SHA-1 is the best preamp that I've heard/owned...and if you can find them, not overly expensive.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited October 2007
    TroyD wrote: »
    IMO, the Melos SHA-1 is the best preamp that I've heard/owned...and if you can find them, not overly expensive.

    BDT
    Yep,
    There are about 4 for sale @ headfi,,some SHA-1's and "gold" versions.You should be able to get an SHA 1 for about 425-450.00ish.Good luck:)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited October 2007
    If your using any kind of somewhat effecient speaker ever considered the Manley Stingray or their mono blocks, Manley builds great sounding detailed stuff sans any harshness, several guys here have had some nice success with Manley and they have an upgrade to some absolute nirvana if you are into tone....

    The Melos is excellent and a great idea and a real value.

    The BAT gear is noted for neutrality and I would certainly agree based upon my personal experience with them, the BAT amplifiers are high current with a refined sound, great synergy between their peices which also offer balanced connections and of course Musical Fidelity builds its line-up with care to keep the signal clean while offering alot of products depending on budget, they only build good to best stuff, no junk. You could put a MF tube buffer anywhere in the path to tame down a piece that is a bit to crisp for your taste, the buffer is definetly a supplemenetal piece and needs something else to work with before it can exercise any magic on the rig.

    If you are going to be stepping out with any kind of phono pre the Acoustech PH-1P will take you very long way, the EAR is quite famous, Creek has some nice products as well and the NAD phono pre being a noted budget phono pre, but I really like the Acoustech if you cannot go for the Manley Steelhead which is major coin.

    RT1
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited October 2007
    billbillw wrote: »
    Well, I was hoping to get someone else here to join the Parasound pld2k club, but I'm sure you will like MF too.

    No doubt the PLD2000 is an excellent pre also. Like I said earlier, I'm still impressed with the PHP-850, given it's $249 price tag when it was available.
    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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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited October 2007
    wingnut4772 wrote: »
    Yes. That's it exactly. Not brighter at all (yuck:eek:). Less veiled perhaps.

    If I'm reading you right on this, you'll love the A3CR. When you get it, but in your best Jazz CD that has alot of percussion/cymbals. Later, send me a Christmas card for talking you into it...:cool:
    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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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited October 2007
    Got it. It would be nice to listen to it but unfortunately EVERYTHING is in storage.:(
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • Texas42
    Texas42 Posts: 404
    edited October 2007
    Best preamp I've ever owned (sonically, at least) was the Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid. It's not the prettiest or most expensive by any measure but it has a magic to it that I've never experienced with other preamps (even those that cost 10X more than the $400-500 they tend to go for). It is a tube preamp and so very non fatiguing and musical. Highly recommend you give one a listen if you ever get the chance...
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited October 2007
    I just went from a 2 channel pre to a pre/pro, and my pre/pro has beter synergy with my amp. The Cary Cinema 6 has an excellent 2 channel analog section. Ultra quiet, I am loving it so far, and less rack speace.
    Venom
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited November 2007
    Ok Guys. Due to my current situation, I have to turn right around and sell the Musical Fidelity. Anyone interested?
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited November 2007
    Wing - if you need something to listen to (or through), I have a Yamaha C-85 i am not using I would be glad to ship to you. Just ship it back when you are done with it. (no rush, have not used it in years) Just an offer...

    Michael

    it is a 2 channel pre - out before remote controls even, but it does sound pretty good and does have a phono-in and a parametric eq. (It was awesome for a late 80's piece of equipment)
    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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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited November 2007
    McLoki wrote: »
    Wing - if you need something to listen to (or through), I have a Yamaha C-85 i am not using I would be glad to ship to you. Just ship it back when you are done with it. (no rush, have not used it in years) Just an offer...

    Michael

    it is a 2 channel pre - out before remote controls even, but it does sound pretty good and does have a phono-in and a parametric eq. (It was awesome for a late 80's piece of equipment)

    Thank you but the whole rig is in storage.:(
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited November 2007
    wingnut, are you doing OK

    Best wishes,
    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited November 2007
    engtaz wrote: »
    wingnut, are you doing OK

    Best wishes,
    engtaz

    I've been better. Thank You.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited November 2007
    Hey, Wingnut. I just viewed your home page and I thought you could use a little compliment. So here goes, and keep in mind, I'm married, so this is just a compliment to hopefully make you feel better..........

    You should be in the tasteful babe thread. You are definitely a looker ;). That's for sure.

    That said, I wish you the best of luck in light of your current situation. I really do. I know this has NOTHING to do with the thread we are on, but oh well. Just wanted to try to make somebody in this world feel a little better tonight.

    Back to our regularly scheduled program. My apologies for the interruption.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited November 2007
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Hey, Wingnut. I just viewed your home page and I thought you could use a little compliment. So here goes, and keep in mind, I'm married, so this is just a compliment to hopefully make you feel better..........

    You should be in the tasteful babe thread. You are definitely a looker ;). That's for sure.

    That said, I wish you the best of luck in light of your current situation. I really do. I know this has NOTHING to do with the thread we are on, but oh well. Just wanted to try to make somebody in this world feel a little better tonight.

    Back to our regularly scheduled program. My apologies for the interruption.


    Thanks:o
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter