2. amps-preamps
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Preamp Advice plz?? Using Nak PA-7 & Legacy Focus

Hi!

I'm 21 years of age and building my first system, really excited, spending way too much..

I've bought all of this stuff second hand: Original Legacy Focus speakers ($2500), a Nakamichi PA-7 ($700) and an Azur 640H cd player ($800).

I really, really need help finding a Preamp now. My budget is around $400-500, so I'm hoping to find a used one so that I can afford the quality to match the other components (they ARE good components, right?? x_x). I was also hoping to get a Preamp with a remote. ..and a headphone jack, but that's not going to happen.

I'm totally lost here, don't know what to look for or where to look for it. I called some local places in Toronto, but found nothing. I'm hoping I'll be fortunant enough to find what I need on this site. I would appretiate anyone's help so much.

Cheers,
Rob
caribou007
7 responses Add your response
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Look into some used Classe preamps, My dad used Classe, Lexicon and Audio Research with his Focus 20/20.
reubent
6,940 posts
 
I'm generally a fan of tube pre-amps and I tend to reside in the "simpler is better" camp. Here's a nice simple one within your budget. Oh, and it is a quality headphone amp too.....

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1171652444

Not affiliate with the seller and haven't heard the unit, but like the concept.....

Enjoy,

TIC
pescolar
128 posts
 
Mr.James Bond,
Try a tube Cary SLP 88 pre-amp around $800 or less ?with remote included and 2 outputs. combination with a solid state PA-7 amp..oohhmm.Good luck.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Hi Rob,

If I were in you situation I would sell the nakamichi amp and look for a good integrated amp in the $1-1.5K range.
Some good choices here, like Plinius 8200 mk II, Classe CAP-151, Krell KAV-300iL, just to name a few. In your price range I think you get a better value out of integrateds than from seperates.

Cheers,
John
caribou007 OP
1 posts
 
Hey, thanks for the advice everyone.

Pescolar- there is a Cary SLP 88 up for sale, asking $975 (includes some extra tubes- link:http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1170359958)- it's too rich for my blood.. i emailed, asking for a deal.. here's hoping, heh..

****
Could someone please explain to me if I need to worry about wearing out these tubes? I listen to music all day, every day. Sometimes light music, sometimes heavy. Ok, pretty often, it's full and heavy, if not too loud.. Does this mean I'll be buying replacement tubes for a tube amp?
*****

Excuse my noobie questions, hehe..

Cheers, and happy holidays to you all.
tom_hankins
928 posts
 
Check out the Parasound Halo P3 preamp. Just a little over your budget used. Also they made a model P/LD 2000, or P/LD1500 that come up for a couple hundred every once in a while that where pretty good preamps. Years ago I had a second system in my shop consisting of the same speakers you have and a Parasound amp and preamp I picked up used. The sound was pretty good. Lots of power and ready to rock loud all day....everyday!
holley
79 posts
 
I would look for an Audio Research LS-3 preamp (if you are patient, you can find one in your price range). I ran that with a Parasound amp on the Focus and it worked out real well.
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