Help with a pre

mule

I need a little direction, there is so much to choose from I really don't know where to begin.

1st, I would like to have but don't need to have digital inputs for the convenience of hooking the pc up and putting a 400 song playlist on shuffle and doing housework without messing with a cd player.

2nd, I plan on getting a above entry level cd/sacd player for when I really want to sit down and listen to music.

3rd, I really don't see myself getting into vinyl, just too hyper to mess with that stuff

Any certain "classic" I should keep my eye open for, carver, nad, dynaco or something of the sort?

Any certain "classic" I should avoid like the plague?

Any certain "bang for the buck" piece I should definately check out, adcom, onkyo, rotel or the sort?

Any overpriced piece I should avoid like the plague?

And lastly, Should I be considering a hybrid tube or tube pre?

Thanks all, I hope your wisdom can save me a little time and money wasted on the wrong piece.

Early B.

Well, I have some questions for you --

1. Will this pre be for a separate 2-channel system? Do you need HT by-pass?

2. What is your budget?

3. Will the pre be used with the Sunfire amp you recently purchased?

4. Do you want a remote? What about XLR? Tone controls? Two pair of pre-outs?

mule

Early B. wrote: »

Well, I have some questions for you --

1. Will this pre be for a separate 2-channel system? Do you need HT by-pass?

2. What is your budget?

3. Will the pre be used with the Sunfire amp you recently purchased?

4. Do you want a remote? What about XLR? Tone controls? Two pair of pre-outs?

1. yes

2. I don't have a set budget, if I could get a classic that was simple and worked well for $100 I would be happy, I would have a hard time justifying over $1500, so somewhere in between The less I spend here the more I have for a better cd player, but I really don't have the expierience to know how to budget it out.

3. yes

4. I don't need a remote but it would be nice. I don't think xlr are important to my wireing situation. I never really thought tone controls improved sound, but again my expierience is limited.


Just curious, does something like this .. http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ele/695104484.html sound better than modern technology or is it just the novelty of having something retro, I apologize now if that is a really dumb question:D

Thanks early, I can allways count on you for logical replies.

Face

mule wrote: »

Just curious, does something like this .. http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ele/695104484.html sound better than modern technology or is it just the novelty of having something retro, I apologize now if that is a really dumb question:D

That ad worries me a little, he spelled McIntosh wrong and his price is very cheap.

I used to run a vintage McIntosh tuner/pre. They're very colored and warm sounding. If you like the "McIntosh" sound or have a bright rig that needs to be toned down, it's a desirable unit.

tcrossma

I've been very happy with my Adcom GFP-750, which sounds like it would fit well with what you're trying to accomplish. It has XLR plus two sets of RCA outputs, HT bypass, and is excellent sounding. Used you should be able to find it for $600-$700.

dcmeigs

How about a tube preamp? A Conrad Johnson PV-5 or PV-10 would be in your price range.

Bass_Pedal

Another vote for the Adcom GFP 750. Excellent value at around $700.

TroyD

The Adcom 750 is supposed to be a world class preamp.....to me, don't skimp on the preamp. Now, if you can find one, the Melos SHA-1 is a giant killer (and can be had under five bills).

I do like CJ preamps....I'd try and bag a Premier 10 or 14. The PV series aren't bad either but the earlier versions had great midrange but were a little soft at the frequency extremes and tended to be a little too warm and lush for some tastes.

Audio Research also has a great following.

Basically if you are looking at 1500 to spend...man, TONS of great options.

BDT

ben62670

I'm not a huge fan of 5.1, or 7.1 music except for Dark Side of the Moon, but I do have to ask is the pre going to be used for 2, or multi channel.
Ben

mule

Thanks for the input, I checked out the adcom and that seems like the way to go, very highly regarded.

What do you think of the nad 118.. http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1215353511 ? That seems like it could give me a little more flexability.

One more for the adcom experts, is the gtp 750 the same as the gfp but with a tuner? I don't need a tuner but I've come across more of the gtp than the gfp and I can't find the exact details on the gtp, thanks.

Bass_Pedal

Here is some basic info on the GTP 750

http://www.perpetualmarketingonline.com/adcom04.htm

This unit along with the NAD you mentioned are both Preamps with built in DACs and digital processing or as you might say they are both a Pre/Pro. The GTP 750 is actually a 5.1 Pre/Pro, which I don’t think you were looking for. You mentioned in the OP that digital inputs would be a bonus if you could get them. If that is the case you may want to go with either one of these units since they have built in DACs. The big draw of the NAD is its DSP modes, not sure if you are into that sort of thing but in my mind stereo music and DSP modes are mutually exclusive. As far as quality goes, I have never used either and can’t comment on their performance, however if you mainly plan to use the analogue output of your CD player or have some other external DAC in the mix then I would go with the GFP 750 as it is specifically designed for the shortest most direct signal path in order to provide the truest representation of your source material.

zingo

I have a Lexicon and I love it. It sounds great for any listening. Check out this one as the price is really good.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lexicon-DC-1-Surround-Processor-Pre-Amp-Controller-NR_W0QQitemZ330239162080QQihZ014QQcategoryZ14978QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

del44

Another option would be a Musical Fidelity pre.http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1217104835 This one can be had for under $700. I've got the A5 pre, really nice and has a phono pre. Just in case you decide to go vinyl. I'm not sure if the A3cr has the phono, but the A3.2cr does.

mule

Thanks for helping me narrow things down.

This gfp... http://cgi.ebay.com/Adcom-GFP-750-Balanced-Preamplifier-Preamp-GFP750_W0QQitemZ220239807479QQihZ012QQcategoryZ12050QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

And the above musical fidelity seem like two outstanding options, and they seem like both would make me very happy. I would have to give the a3cr the advantage on styling alone.

But one last question, if I am using a above average cd/sacd player am I going to have the unit do the da conversion and send analoge to the pre, or am I better off getting something like the lexicon zingo mentioned or the adcom gtp 750 or something similar and connecting with optical or digital coaxial.

Or more simply, are the da converters in the above mentioned digital pre's better than the da converter in a above average cd/sacd player ?

dcmeigs

mule wrote: »

Or more simply, are the da converters in the above mentioned digital pre's better than the da converter in a above average cd/sacd player ?

You've asked the correct question. To get the answer you will need to determine which chip is used in each piece of equipment and compare the specs. Look for 24 bit 192kHz chips.

Here is a Burr Brown data sheet for the PCM-1755