2. amps-preamps
  3. 165668-2383

Reccomend a good preamp for me.

I have nixed the preamp for a while now with using only a DCS Rossini DAC going direct.  I have that in the back of my room and a 10M pair of balanced cables that run to my various amps I use.  I have been getting back into vinyl again and even a cassette player so I am in need of a preamp that will have at least one balanced input and 2 more RCA inputs.  I have been trying different amps and speakers lately also and think I will land on some kind of lower powered tubes and higher efficiency speakers.  I used to have a few nice preamps years ago and I always remember thinking the preamp was a big piece of the puzzle the heart maybe of the system.  PS Audio BHK looks good maybe or a Pass Preamp?  I'm out of the loop on preamps. 
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Showing 2 responses by yyzsantabarbara

yyzsantabarbara
4,443 posts
 
I have 2 preamps that are rather opposites. The CODA 07x  ($6K) and the Benchmark HPA4 or LA4. The Benchmark has no sound and it will pass the sound of the source with what seems to be no alteration of the signal.

I would take the 30 day home trial of the $2500 LA4 preamp and hook up your DAC to XLR 1 input (optimized for DACs). You will get an amazing volume control on this preamp. There are a few posters that have $100k systems that have added the LA4 instead of a fancier preamp or DAC direct.

I do not have the 07x delivered yet but I expect it to alter the sound. I had the CODA CSiB integrated for a while so I know the sound I am expecting. I want the sound to be warmed up for a specific use case.

I think the Benchmark preamp is one of the very best at ANY price.
yyzsantabarbara
4,443 posts
 
@co93 I have a Benchmark HPA4 (same as the LA4) in an all BM stack. How does your LA4 compare with the ARC and Boulder preamps? I have a CODA 07x preamp shipped today to me and I am looking forward to comparing the HPA4 to the 07x.

I love the HPA4 and consider it the best BM product I own. The HPA4 and LA4 are almost certain to be quieter than any gear hooked up to them so the statement about "no preamp" maybe appropriate with these 2 preamps.
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