Receiver with pre outs or preamp

2456710

Comments

  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,567
    My preamp score so far has been a Bottlehead Foreplay II for $50. For what it is....hard to beat imo. And I know some here dont care for the Integra M504 power amp. But that amp and the Bottlehead with a Denon SACD on fully restored Infinity RSIIIa's, I'm lovin' it!:)
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,567
    Sounds about as good with SDA's as well.....lol
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
  • Realistic
    Realistic Posts: 355
    Well boston it sounds great so far, I adjusted the bias with help from friends here and you tube. I have about 6 hours on her and you sure can tell the difference, the honey dripper on cd I have listened to more than I want to admit and I have it going now and its great. What a difference, I am looking into all the preamp suggestions from you guys I believe you all when you say it will be a improvement over the receiver I have now. The guys in the speaker forum here were don't on with the amp recommendation so there is no need for me to second guess you all on the preamp you guys here sure do know how to make good sound. Thank you all very much, I just still cant believe a amplifier could make this big of a change in my music. Im liking it a whole lot.
  • Realistic
    Realistic Posts: 355
    That should say those guys were dead on with the amp recommendation.
  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,438
    Thats great. I too enjoyed info on bias. Ya learn alot around here even when we dont have the same issues. Enjoy your new amp & maybe later on do something different & bring it to a different level. Enjoy..... Ive done the same & as i completed the set up i even upgraded speaker cables & now im upgrading amp & cd player cords.... Some say yes & others say no. Ask ME i say once your at a certain place in your system - why not. Every little upgrade over time will make a difference.
    ..
    ..
    ..
    Randy/Maine
  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,567
    Realistic wrote: »
    I just still cant believe a amplifier could make this big of a change in my music. Im liking it a whole lot.

    Jus' think...on some audio forums, peeps will tell you that ALL amplifiers sound the same! :o

    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
  • Realistic
    Realistic Posts: 355
    I really do hope you guys do understand that I really do appreciate all the help and guidance you have gave me.
  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,776
    edited January 2016
    Hi! I'm Russ the troll and cables don't matter.
    These guys are hacks. They spent all my money and I can't hear a dam thing. ;)
    Welcome to the rabbit hole.
  • Realistic
    Realistic Posts: 355
    That's funny Russ and thank you I'm glad to be here although my wallet and wife might not be lol
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2016
    halo71 wrote: »
    Realistic wrote: »
    I just still cant believe a amplifier could make this big of a change in my music. Im liking it a whole lot.

    Jus' think...on some audio forums, peeps will tell you that ALL amplifiers sound the same! :o

    What? Wait a minute! Are you saying they are NOT the SAME? D A M N, now I'm gonna have to sell my Soundesign stuff! BTW, were "any" of these made in Japan?

    xaq305jo50s0.jpg
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,124
    And you're crazy if you think that you need a better DAC than what your phone provides
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,969
    halo71 wrote: »
    Realistic wrote: »
    I* just still cant believe a amplifier could make this big of a change in my music. Im liking it a whole lot.

    Jus' think...on some audio forums, peeps** will tell you that ALL amplifiers sound the same! :o
    "Them**"... Not to be confused w/"us*." Anytime. Can bring their favorite source materiel and player if they so chose. To my house to listen to 6 different brands of amps. And continue to lie to themselves and the rest us saying: "They sound the same!"
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga - LCR mids, inside* & out 8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out *soldered LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & “Plugged*” Mids - 981, connected w/MP Premiere ICs Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s *Xschop's handy work
  • Realistic
    Realistic Posts: 355
    Im at work today working on more rusted vehicles and the whole time I am wrenching away all I was thinking is how in the heck can I come up with some extra cash to but a good preamp before tax time. I wonder if this qualifies as a sickness lol.... Don't worry I didn't leave anything off the vehicles,I may have left some knuckle skin and maybe a little blood but Ihave more.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    Realistic wrote: »
    Im at work today working on more rusted vehicles and the whole time I am wrenching away all I was thinking is how in the heck can I come up with some extra cash to but a good preamp before tax time. I wonder if this qualifies as a sickness lol.... Don't worry I didn't leave anything off the vehicles,I may have left some knuckle skin and maybe a little blood but Ihave more.

    A body and fender guy, cool man. Here's an idea for extra cash that a buddy of mine does. He got a dealers license and goes to auctions and buys cars fairly newer that people would want for a song, does the body work and sells them for double what he paid. He actually approaches what he makes at his day job doing this on the side. He does as much or as little as he has time for.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • Realistic
    Realistic Posts: 355
    Hey Tony, im a mechanic and in my area when you try to buy a vehicle that needs work like a engine replacement they want to sell you the car with the bad engine for almost as much as you could buy that car running.
  • Realistic
    Realistic Posts: 355
    I have been doing a lot of looking into preamps and If I can come up with some cash between now and tax time I am really thinking of getting the parasound halo p5 because it has a dac and I can still use my TT also. I also looked at a B&k 507 but I didn't see pre outs on it, there are a whole lot of connections back there. Also looked at a Denon pra 1500 this add basically says its the best denon ever built but I would have to buy a external dac he wants 399 firm for the denon.
  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    The Parasound is a nice piece of gear and should meet your needs well.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,892
    edited January 2016
    I own a P5 and enjoy it very much. The HT bypass is a great feature although I don't use it currently. The DAC is very good but the phono pre is the weak link. The P5 is an excellent sounding pre for the money and I highly recommend it. I would suggest purchasing new, as the used vs new price is not that far apart. It will also take your new amp to a whole new level in SQ. Don't forget quality IC's, and down the rabbit hole you go.

    Post edited by motorhead43026 on
    2 channel: Anthem 225 Integrated amp; Parasound Ztuner; TechnicsTT SL1350; Vincent PHO-8 phono pre; Marantz CD6005 spinner; Polk SDA2BTL's; LAT International speaker cables, ZU Mission IC's and power cables all into a PS Audio Dectet Power center.

    Other; M10 series II, M7C's, Hafler XL600 amp, RB-980BX, Parasound HCA-1500 amp , P5 preamp, all in storage. All vintage Polk have had crossover rebuilds and tweeter upgrades.

    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.

    Imagine making politics your entire personality.
  • Realistic
    Realistic Posts: 355
    Thanks motorhead I will buy it new its just going to take me awhile. I am really digging the amp adjusting the bias really does make a difference. Its amazing the sound quality difference in my music coming threw this amp you really can hear a difference, I hope the preamp will provide more of the same. I can put the preamp on my card but it will take me some time to pay it off and I hate being in debt. The snap on guy gets enough of my money every week... Man I have been reading all of the post here on surge/power conditioning wow im over loaded.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    Realistic wrote: »
    Thanks motorhead I will buy it new its just going to take me awhile. I am really digging the amp adjusting the bias really does make a difference. Its amazing the sound quality difference in my music coming threw this amp you really can hear a difference, I hope the preamp will provide more of the same. I can put the preamp on my card but it will take me some time to pay it off and I hate being in debt. The snap on guy gets enough of my money every week... Man I have been reading all of the post here on surge/power conditioning wow im over loaded.

    that's why we call it the rabbit hole....once you get a taste of good sound there's no going back. Kinda like using cheap K-Mart tools then using the Snap-on's. The guys here will steer you to the audio gear that performs like Snap-on but at K-mart prices, like the amp you just acquired. Take your time, save the coin, sell stuff you don't need or use to put towards a good pre. Audio isn't a race, takes some trial and error to find the things that will blow your sack back.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • Realistic - You might try starting at the low end first. That way, if you're not happy with the sound, you can generally get back what you paid for an older preamp and move on to the next thing. One of my first setups was an NAD 1155 pre with a Nakamichi PA5 powering some SDA-1Cs. I loved the sound of that setup. You might keep an eye out on the Bay or CL for a used 1155 and give it a whirl.
    Home Theater - Talon Firebird (Fronts), Talon Raven 2002 (Surrounds), Talon Cinema Hawk (Ctr), Talon Falcon (Back Surrounds), JL Audio Fathom F112 Sub
    Pre/Pro - Classe SSP-800
    Amps - Sim Audio Moon Titan 5 channel, Modwright KWH 225i
    Blu-Ray - Oppo UDP-203
    Projector - Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 5040UB
    Screen - Silver Tickets MPT 110"

    Primary 2 Channel - Talon Firebirds
    Modwright KWH 225i Integrated Amp
    Oppo BDP-103, Audio Research DAC 8

    Secondary 2 Channel - Polk SDA 2B
    NAD T775, Denon 2900 DVD-A/SACD
  • Realistic
    Realistic Posts: 355
    Its hard to sell audio stuff in my area, no one is really into it and the people that I have run into that like audio don't want older stuff like I have and most of them use a blue tooth speaker set up with there phone or I pod. I am the only dumb one in my area I guess. I would like to buy new this way I don't have to worry about a recap and if I didn't get a old one recapped I will always wonder if it is sounding as good as it should be plus I want a dac. If I buy older used I would also have to buy a dac and get the used pre a tune up and that would require shipping, no local tech. The guys here are great and patient with me and I do appreciate that.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    I didn't mean sell audio stuff, lol. Look in the garage bro, any bikes that have been sitting too long.....car parts ? Old kids toys that never get touched ? Too much furniture clogging up that spare room ? Small Kitchen appliances that never get used ? Sell your unwanted whatever for cash and use that towards audio.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • Realistic
    Realistic Posts: 355
    I did that a few years back to get my son a new dirt bike, he was very happy. Not much left to get rid of after that.
  • Always have blood and plasma to fall back on.........lol.
    2 channel: Anthem 225 Integrated amp; Parasound Ztuner; TechnicsTT SL1350; Vincent PHO-8 phono pre; Marantz CD6005 spinner; Polk SDA2BTL's; LAT International speaker cables, ZU Mission IC's and power cables all into a PS Audio Dectet Power center.

    Other; M10 series II, M7C's, Hafler XL600 amp, RB-980BX, Parasound HCA-1500 amp , P5 preamp, all in storage. All vintage Polk have had crossover rebuilds and tweeter upgrades.

    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.

    Imagine making politics your entire personality.
  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,638
    Always have blood and plasma to fall back on.........lol.

    There's always the sperm bank. More fun...
  • footwedge
    footwedge Posts: 475
    Always have blood and plasma to fall back on.........lol.

    There's always the sperm bank. More fun…


    Depends :/ , on your age.
  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,638
    footwedge wrote: »
    Always have blood and plasma to fall back on.........lol.

    There's always the sperm bank. More fun…


    Depends :/ , on your age.

    At 56 it's anyones guess.
  • I am over 60, so mine are probably floaters.
    2 channel: Anthem 225 Integrated amp; Parasound Ztuner; TechnicsTT SL1350; Vincent PHO-8 phono pre; Marantz CD6005 spinner; Polk SDA2BTL's; LAT International speaker cables, ZU Mission IC's and power cables all into a PS Audio Dectet Power center.

    Other; M10 series II, M7C's, Hafler XL600 amp, RB-980BX, Parasound HCA-1500 amp , P5 preamp, all in storage. All vintage Polk have had crossover rebuilds and tweeter upgrades.

    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.

    Imagine making politics your entire personality.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    Realistic wrote: »
    I did that a few years back to get my son a new dirt bike, he was very happy. Not much left to get rid of after that.

    You'd be surprised the junk you have laying around that you could sell. I sell stuff all the time, and the more I sell the more I find. Still have a minty 70's womans Schwinn Varsity 10 speed bike hanging in the garage, generator, light, no rust. An old pair of wood water ski's, and who knows what else. I'll get around to selling them when I run out of other junk to sell. Just let go of a Kitchen aide stand mixer that the wife never used, but she wanted it 5 years ago.

    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's