2. amps-preamps
  3. 1181686119

Help me buy a magical pre-amp that doesn't exist

I'm looking for a pre-amp, to go along with my new Behringer A500, with quite specific requirements. So far, it seems that this magical pre-amp does not exist, mostly due to the first requirement

-Costs in line with the Behringer. I will be selling a Rotel RA-02 Integrated amp so I'll have a budget of about $300-500, give or take as I'm willing to throw in some other money too if needed, to work with.

-Good sound, obviously. Neutral, no hiss.

-Solid state. I tend to leave my amps on 24/7 so tubes are frowned upon for this reason.

-Remote control. My laziness demands it.

-Balanced outputs/(at least one) input. I would prefer to run completely balanced, since I'm going into a pro crossover to separate my speakers and bass bins, then to the A500.

-Reasonable cosmetics. I hate the 80ies look. This puts Linn gear I've seen in a bad light that fits pretty much every other requirement.

-MC phono stage! Ooh, I bet you guys all hate me now. There go 99% of the candidates.

-A 12v trigger would be nice too, but it's not a make-or-break feature.

So far, through research and recommendations I've come up with the following, in order of price:

Classe Thirty
Linn LK-1
NAD 116
Classe Five

Anybody know of others? Any thoughts between these four?

The NAD fits every requirement but might not sound as nice as the others. It's also a lot harder to find! Some suggestions or comments would be so greatly appreciated!
nayr2

Showing 4 responses by chadnliz

chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
"Please stop pushing your own products"

I wonder how much useful advice you think you are going to get unless folks actually own or have extensive experience in what they suggest?
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
I think you need to lower your expectations or raise your budget, for the record I have a tube pre and it is on 24/7 with over a year on it with no tube changes. Like I assume you know the MC is probably the deal breaker, most in that budget will be MM only....and probably not very good.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Nayr2 you are new here so maybe you dont understand how ideas and opinions work but you come off as hostile. If you dont like the help people are trying to give then dont come back. If you are tired of getting ideas that cost more maybe you are asking for more then chicken scratch can buy you.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
I am not rubbibg anything in your shorts :)
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