audio refinement pre2

holt

I want to add a preamp to my setup for 2 channel music. I like my HT as it currently is. I was going to hold out for a 2 channel pre with HT bypass but a good used one is hard to find in my current price range. I've been communicating with someone on audiogon for a Audio Refinement pre2 which I've read good things about sound wise. I only need this as a 2 channel pre without processing. He writes that it won't difficult to se up just for that function and that I could easily use it with my HTsetup even though it has no ht bypass switch.
Do you think this prepro is good for 2 channel and will be easy to set up in my system for that purpose?
Thanks for your help!

holt

Anyone?

The seller doesn't think I would have a problem setting it up just for 2 channel purposes. I know about the unity gain thing, but I can't find anything with searches on whether this would be good for my purposes. I understand it has well regarded 2 channel, but I was going to try to hold out for a Parasound New Classic 2100.

holt

Okay, no responses so doesn't look to be too much interest in this pre/pro. I went ahead and passed on it. I guess I'll do some holding out and just try to go for a tube preamp with ht bypass. That will take some "holding out" to get the funds up.

thsmith

Do not know this pre but I have played with Pre's that do and don't have HT bypass. I would focus on best sound over this feature, even a remote.

holt

thsmith wrote: »

Do not know this pre but I have played with Pre's that do and don't have HT bypass. I would focus on best sound over this feature, even a remote.

Yes, I'm sure you are right. The problem I have of course is being able to listen to anything before deciding. With no local audio shops, listening gets difficult and you have to rely on what you read from others. I would love to spend an afternoon listening to different setups. Right now I'm finding the decision on a good used preamp to be more difficult than getting an amp. I keep going back and forth with pros and cons of SS, tube, and passive. I love the simplicity of passive and the idea of pure input, but that sure sounds like a hit or miss deal if you don't have the right setup. Tube sounds appealing, but I'm a noob and I have no idea what a tube pre sounds like much less have ever biased a set of tubes, or deciding on which tubes to get. I feel safer with SS and simple right now, but I sure hate limiting myself.