2. amps-preamps
  3. 1438629848

stereo preamp $2-5K suggestions

I have been a long time lurker of Audiogon forums but I don’t think I have posted anything yet. I am in the market for a stereo preamplifier. I am currently using my Arcam AVR380 as my preamp. The AVR is connected to a 250WPC Emotiva XPA-2 amplifier (input impedance 23.5komhs). I was interested in putting together a tube preamp to solid state amplifier system. I am interested in a tube preamp since I have always preferred to use guitar amps with tubes and I thought that some of that tube magic may apply to hi-fi as well. I have a budget of 5K yet would really like to spend 2-3K instead. (Who wouldn’t?) I am interested in new or used. I have liked my Emotiva amp and looked at the Emotiva’s XSP-1 preamp but I have not tried it at home. I may A-B the Emotiva preamp with whatever tube preamp I end up getting to see how good the XSP-1 is. I tend to use my Music Hall MMF 5.1 turntable / Grado Platinum 1 Cart. / Phonomena II phono preamp to listen to most music. I also tend to play a lot of music with female vocalists. I really like the voices of Anne Murray, Linda Ronstadt, Shelby Lynne and Olivia Newton John. However, I also play a lot of Led Zep, Pink Floyd, Willie Nelson and Steely Dan too. The most important aspect of music to me is the vocals and acoustic instruments. I like solid bass but not at the expense of good sonic texture in the bass. My current audio system (Vandersteen 3Asig speakers/Arcam AVR380/Emotiva XPA-2 amp) sounds good but not great. The sonic texture, dynamics and soundstage width are pretty good in my system but I do not get the 3D presentation I have heard in other systems where the instruments and vocals seem to be floating in space. I can hear the instruments/vocals in my current system placed side to side (2D) but I do not get much depth. I would like suggestions on tube stereo preamps that may get me closer to a 3D presentation of the music. I have been doing online research and saw the PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium Preamp that is new for about 3K. Is this preamp as good as many reviews say it is? Can it really compete with 10K preamplifiers? If there are any great solid state preamps that you think would also give me a great “virtually-there 3D presentation” (in the 2-5K range), I would like to hear about those too. Thanks all!
g_rogers

Showing 10 responses by g_rogers

g_rogers OP
12 posts
 
Thanks for the suggestions Sgunther I will check those out.
g_rogers OP
12 posts
 
Dbong - Thanks for the primaluna dialogue premium preamp review!
The electrical components used in the primaluna are impressive.

Dbong - Did you get a chance to compare the primaluna preamp against any other preamps?
g_rogers OP
12 posts
 
Thank you all for the great suggestions. I will look into the Jim Smith book. (Thanks Sgunther) Earlier I gave a guess as to my speakers placement. (During a pleasant work distraction.) My speakers are 37.5" from the sidewalls and 34" from the backwall measured from the center-top of my speakers. However, in five minutes I will be tweaking the speaker placement and tilt to get more from my speakers.
g_rogers OP
12 posts
 
Soix - I was looking in the Vandersteen manual and one of the suggestions is to place the seating position and speakers 1/3 of way into room. However I was just kidding around a bit in my last post. There are other suggested seating/speaker positions listed too such a placing speakers and sitting position on odd divisible boundaries. (i.e. 1/3, 1/5 and 1/7 into room.) I do happen to sit about 4 feet from the back wall since the back of the room is a natural walkway to backyard.
g_rogers OP
12 posts
 
I have looked into all the preamps suggested and have found many that I think would be a good fit. Now if they will only show up on Agon... In my stereo room I have 16'w x 15'l to play with. Lets see... so if I sit 1/3 into room (5 feet) and put the speakers 6 feet from the back wall and sit the minimum specified distance from the speakers (Richard Vandersteen states for the 3A is 6 feet) then I need 17 feet. Damn. I need a new house! I do plan on moving the speakers this weekend into room about 6 feet. Its a bit of a job since I have to move furniture, rug and two 100 pound speakers. Thanks again for the great suggestions.
g_rogers OP
12 posts
 
Thanks all again for the feedback.

Dsper - thanks for your review of the PrimaLuna. Do you feel the PrimaLuna was a good upgrade in your system or were you hoping for more? I think you may be right that my speakers may not be the type of speakers that can do the holographic type imaging.
g_rogers OP
12 posts
 
I really appreciate the great preamp suggestions. Thank you! I have been keeping an eye out for some of the suggested preamps to pop-up on Agon.

Shakeydeal - I agree that putting a $5K preamp with a $800 amp is not ideal. However, I plan on upgrading the amp next after the preamp.

Mjmch2003 - That is good to know. Did you buy the PrimaLuna preamp new from Upscale Audio? If so, do you remember their refund policy?
g_rogers OP
12 posts
 
Banmac - will do. Thanks.
g_rogers OP
12 posts
 
Thank you all for the great suggestions. I do plan on upgrading my amp at some point too. I like the full sound my Emotiva XPA-2 amp gives over the venerable Bryston 3B amp (100 watts/channel) that I had years before. The Bryston sounded good but ran out of juice when I turned up the volume to moderate levels. The Emotiva seemed to really "wake up" my speakers compared to the Bryston. However, I think I may detect a little upper-mid-range glare or hardness with the Emotiva. A few months ago I took my Emotiva amp out the chain and ran the speakers with just my Arcam AVR380 (90 watts/channel). I noticed that vocals were sweeter sounding with just the Arcam but the dynamics and slam were missing as compared to the Emotiva. Thanks again for all the feedback I really appreciate it!
g_rogers OP
12 posts
 
Good points Timrhu and Wlutke. I followed the Vandersteen's positioning guide to set up the speakers including setting the correct tilt angle. I have also played around with positioning too. In fact, I moved the speakers farther into the room (about 6") and slightly increased the toe-in last week. After moving the speakers I noticed the imaging improved. (My wife has not noticed that I moved the speakers out more yet...) I have never had the speakers professionally set-up. I purchased the speakers used and never benefited from a dealer professionally setting the speakers up. I have read about set-ups where the dealer positions the speakers using lasers and mirrors and I thought that may be worthwhile someday. The Vandersteen 3ASig speakers may be a little too big for my room too. The room I have them in is 15' wide by 16' deep with 7.5' high ceiling. The speakers are about 8 feet from each other and 3' from the back and side walls. This weekend I will play around with speaker positioning more.
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