2. amps-preamps
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Looking for an used, inexpensive pre amp

Currently using a cheap but fairly nice sounding Dayton T120 D class amp.  Not enough inputs.  I would like to find a pre amp to use with this amp and perhaps at some point, if I can find the money, I can buy a power amplifier to replace the Dayton.

Figure my budget to be under $200 right now.  Looks like plenty of older inexpensive Solid State pre amps are available on Ebay.  

Any ideas what I should look for when buying a preamp?  I've only used Integrated amplifiers up to this point.  
will62

Showing 4 responses by will62

will62 OP
177 posts
 
Have found the Dayton does not play nice with my Tuners.  Too much noise in the audio.  Will keep that for the future when I hope to have a small rural property for recreation and can use it there with a  CD player.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
I've been very busy with work and that is why I have not checked back in a while.  Gone from home an average of 14 hours a day and sometimes longer.  

Bought something on Ebay to tide me over for a while.  Got a working Yamaha RX 596 receiver which gets very good reviews.  Have now Bi Wired it to my Castle Conway 3 Tower speakers and I can't believe the detail and increased space around most of the instruments.  Hearing things I never heard with the Cambridge Audio amp I had for many years and it is a bit of an improvement over the Dayton.

Will still plan to upgrade though in a year or two when I have a little more money to spend.  Will likely look for a integrated amp instead of a pre amp and power amp now.  Ease of use and installation.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
Question about the Rotel amps people have mentioned.  Are they pretty neutral sounding or perhaps lean a bit warm?  I don't want something that sounds bright or too sterile if you know what I mean.
will62 OP
177 posts
 
For some reason I can't send an email.  It may be that the new user interface which is completely unfamiliar is the problem.  I have not been on this site for almost a year now and it has been redesigned.

Lou Setriodes.  Thanks for the offer.  Having learned the Dayton can't work properly with the Tuner I had to change my goal of buying a separate pre amp.  Will stick with the Yamaha for now until I can decide further down the road if an integrated is the way to go (would allow me to use my Carver TX11a again or the Onkyo T4310 too) or if I can swing separates.

ReubenT.  Thanks for your suggestions too.  I had a NAD about 15 years ago prior to buying a Cambridge Audio Integrated.  Stopped working right after the warranty expired.  Heard the build quality was not all that great AFTER I bought it.  Has NAD improved the build quality of their amps these days?
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