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thsmith
thsmith Posts: 6,082
edited January 2010 in Electronics
Looking to upgrade from my Anthem Pre 1L to something further up the chain.

Started out searching for another Anthem, a 2L or 2L SE but have been receiving some excellent suggestions so I have added Belles 21A and Joule Electra LA-100 Mk 3 to the search.

Price range is around $1250 but could go as high as $1500. Ideally would have HT bypass and remote but could live without both if I had too provided the Pre was a huge step up.

Any suggestions to add to the list to make my CD kick into even higher gear would much appriciated.

Balanced connections not a high priority.

TIA, Tracy
Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited January 2010
    bump
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,481
    edited January 2010
    The Dodd battery powered pre or an MLP.
    ~ 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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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited January 2010
    Audio Research SP16L is a very nice pre and you can find it in that price range.

    If you can swing $1,700-$1,800, a BAT VK5i. I think I stopped looking after this one. The only problem, it has 10 tubes and retubbing can get expensive.

    I've heard very good things about the Belles; I had a couple of pieces from him and it's good stuff.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited January 2010
    +1 on the AR SP16L.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited January 2010
    That Anthem pre didn't last too long.
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2010
    ARC or VTL. I love my VTL 2.5 but I am looking to try an ARC. I think you can find a VTL 5.5 in your price range. If not, the 2.5 is mighty fine, has HT bypass and remote.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,253
    edited January 2010
    BAT VK3i with remote pack. I was looking at one the other day and was seriously contemplating it. Between the sale of my Dared and Adcom plus a few hundred extra I could swing it.

    I need to get w/Ricardo since he bought the big brother (VK5i) and see what his exact impressions are. Don;t like the expense of re-tubing :(

    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 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited January 2010
    Thanks guys for the recommendations. I need to reasearch the BAT, AR and VTL.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2010
    thsmith wrote: »
    Thanks guys for the recommendations. I need to reasearch the BAT, AR and VTL.

    I loved the VTL 2.5 but hated the VTL 5.5 . . . go figure. Might have been a synergy thing however because at the time I was running Adcom 565 mono block amps.
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited January 2010
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    That Anthem pre didn't last too long.

    It is a great pre and for I paid for it, adding V-caps and some nice 6922 it does way more than it should for the price.

    I will be offering it here at what others will think is a good price, I hope.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited January 2010
    vc69 wrote: »
    ARC or VTL. I love my VTL 2.5 but I am looking to try an ARC. I think you can find a VTL 5.5 in your price range. If not, the 2.5 is mighty fine, has HT bypass and remote.

    IS the ARC same as Audio Research ?
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2010
    Belles
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited January 2010
    Hey Ben, yeah been looking hard at the Belles and Joules.

    Hope all is well. How are those Baldwins treating you ?
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • anhchungdoan
    anhchungdoan Posts: 760
    edited January 2010
    Try either Audio Research or Cary, you will not be dissapointed. Mark my word for it.
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,913
    edited January 2010
    Belles !!!, i could bring mine by this weekend or if you want to bring your pre to saginaw. send me a pm.
    marvin
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited January 2010
    Thanks Marvin, how about the DFW meet on the 23rd?
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited January 2010
    thsmith wrote: »
    IS the ARC same as Audio Research ?

    Yeah... It's the good stuff.:)
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I loved the VTL 2.5 but hated the VTL 5.5 . . . go figure. Might have been a synergy thing however because at the time I was running Adcom 565 mono block amps.

    Seems like F1nut said the same thing. I wonder why. Someone here recently got a 5.5 and posted some pics. It certainly has a lot more going on internally than my 2.5 which is pretty sparse. I am very interested in doing some tube rolling but I honestly don't know where to begin.

    I think I'm going to have to move way up the Audio Research chain in order to best it. I love this thing.

    P.S. I have heard great things about Manley too.
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2010
    vc69 wrote: »
    Yeah... It's the good stuff.:)



    Seems like F1nut said the same thing. I wonder why. Someone here recently got a 5.5 and posted some pics. It certainly has a lot more going on internally than my 2.5 which is pretty sparse. I am very interested in doing some tube rolling but I honestly don't know where to begin.

    I think I'm going to have to move way up the Audio Research chain in order to best it. I love this thing.

    P.S. I have heard great things about Manley too.

    Like I said I think it was more of a synergy thing vs. the quality and quantity of the pre. I had been storing Anty's 2.5 for him for a while and I rolled it into my system. It was the first taste of tubes that I had in my rig and I was bowled over by the bass, imaging, inner detail and soundstage. I remember talking to Jesse on the phone and raving about what I was hearing and he kept on saying, "yep that's what tube will do." However it didn't have a phono stage. So I decided to buy one but had read such stellar reviews of the 5.5 that I purchased one with a phono stage. I don't know if it was synergy issues or just some crappy tubes but it sounded awful in the rig I had then. I actually sold it for a profit as a fellow on audiogon offered me more than I was asking.

    I think if I tried it in the current rig I would get much different results.
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