There is a Classe DR 5 with no phono stage for $550 listed currently. I sold them at one time and was very happy with them. Preamp design has not advanced much in some time ,at least not in components in the real world price range so going back to good 90s equipment is a practical way of getting high quality reasonably. I also saw a top line Sim Audio from this period for $1200 that looked interesting. I also find Musical Fidelity to be very good. Find something that looks interesting and check it on Sterophile archives , etc. There is good stuff out there at reasonable prices.
SS Preamp suggestion please
Hi all,
Looking for a preamp that would suit me, and limited local auditioning potential.
The room is a dual purpose room, it is my office (so I use it for long listening sessions) and also my digital music studio (ProTools out of a Mac), 14 x 20 feet.
Speakers are ProAc studio 100's, amps - pair of Bryston 2B SST's.
My taste in music varies widely... from smooth R&B (ex. Erikha Badu, Jill Scott) to hard rock (ex. Tool) to funk jazz (ex. later Miles, Marcus Miller, Weather report).
If I could describe my taste in sound, it would be very clean, smooth, but with plenty of slam. I do not like overly analytical sound, nor do I like pillowy mellowness, but listening fatigue does play a factor.
Finally, I broke the budget setting up my studio, and do not need a phono stage, nor remote, and do not have much interest in tubes. Second hand is best for me, and have a budget of about $1000 and would not like to go over unless it was a "world" of difference.
Suggestions? Thanks very much in advance.
Looking for a preamp that would suit me, and limited local auditioning potential.
The room is a dual purpose room, it is my office (so I use it for long listening sessions) and also my digital music studio (ProTools out of a Mac), 14 x 20 feet.
Speakers are ProAc studio 100's, amps - pair of Bryston 2B SST's.
My taste in music varies widely... from smooth R&B (ex. Erikha Badu, Jill Scott) to hard rock (ex. Tool) to funk jazz (ex. later Miles, Marcus Miller, Weather report).
If I could describe my taste in sound, it would be very clean, smooth, but with plenty of slam. I do not like overly analytical sound, nor do I like pillowy mellowness, but listening fatigue does play a factor.
Finally, I broke the budget setting up my studio, and do not need a phono stage, nor remote, and do not have much interest in tubes. Second hand is best for me, and have a budget of about $1000 and would not like to go over unless it was a "world" of difference.
Suggestions? Thanks very much in advance.