2. amps-preamps
  3. 1041625404

Finally Defined My Requirements. Recommendations?

I have done plenty of looking, asking lots of questions, tons of reading, and I think I've finally nailed down my requirements for a new preamp to replace my current digital processor. I would love to hear your suggestions on the best preamp to fit my needs. Please, please, please give a guy a hand!

End State of System (what the system will look like)
Components: Cary 303/200 CDP*, EAD PowerMaster 2000 amp, Revel Studios, $500-$750 table* w/ Rega 250 arm* (not much analog in my system), Marantz tuner (modified), and the preamp I'm asking for your assistance with*

Cabling: Nordost SPM interconnects, Nordost SPM or Audience or Acoustic Zen Hologram 2 speaker wires* (TBD)

Power: 15A HC Ultimate Outlets (1 for amp, 1 for components on juice bar), Juice bar, Lab 2 cables into UOs, Audience powerChords into juice bar and preamp, JPS Digital cable into CDP, JPS Power AC 2 into PowerMaster

Custom component and amp stands*

(* = Not yet acquired)

Room Setup = Fairly hard room, with lots of carpets and hanging things to soften it up. Zero flexibility on relocation of equipment (cant be moved because of other furniture). High ceiling. Sitting position is about 10' between speakers and 12' to sitting position. Speakers 2-3' off walls.

Desired Sound Strengths
1. Great bass
2. Great imaging
3. Neutral, but not overly analytic, tone

Required Requirements (Must haves)
1. Tubes
2. Balanced outputs
3. IEC exchangeable power cords
4. Reliability
5. 4 Single ended inputs for phono, CDP, tuner, and 1 more.
6. Cost less than $3500 used

Preferred Requirements (Nice to haves, in order of preference)
1. 2 pairs of balanced outputs for easy biamping
2. Balanced inputs
3. Good customer support, maybe a transferable warranty?
4. Reference component - something that will not have to be upgraded
5. Good volume attenuator
6. Phono stage for MC carts.
7. Remote
8. Cost less than $2000 used
9. Easy biasing
10. Easily found NOS tubes
11. Good looks (exposed tubes, etc)
12. Well-respected and known (assists with resale value)
leftistelf

Showing 2 responses by nealhood

nealhood
199 posts
 
Other suggestions? Although I have not heard it, the new Audio Reseach SP-16 looks to be a very good tube preamp. It costs right at $2K (line stage) or $2.5K (w/phono)new. It was recently reviewed on one of the audio sites and recieved much acclaim. Since there are quite a few AR dealers around I would think an audition should be relatively easy.

I think this will meet most of your requirements, but probably not all.
nealhood
199 posts
 
Actually, I do not think it has balanced inputs & outputs. And I am not sure what the differences between this and the 25 would be. The link below is a review and includes quite a bit of info on the SP-16. I am thinking seriously about one.

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/audioresearch_sp16.htm
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