2. amps-preamps
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Preamp suggestions 1200$ used

Hey everyone! thanks for taking the time to get this far and read my post!
I'm looking for a preamp for my system.
I'm an audio newbie, and my current system consists of the following:

Tyler Ref. Monitors
Rogue Magnum 88 amp
CAL CL15 cd player
SignalCable shotgun biwire (bananas)

currently using a Denon 1801 receiver as a preamp and I think that I could do much better than this receiver.
I'd like to ask for your help in building a short list of preamps 8-15 that I could follow up with some research and hopefully some inhouse auditions. Like I said, I'm new to this so any help is appreciated.

Things that are important to me:
1) resale value/demand (no joe's custom preamps)
2) I only use a cd player, soo...no other inputs are required
3) I need a remote volume control
4) I am using a powered sub along with my monitors so it would be nice if the preamp had a sub output (dunno if this is standard? or scarce?)
5) I dont have a preference to tube or solid, like I said, I'm a newbie, I just want SOMETHING for starters
6) I'm an upgrader, depending on the impact of the preamp I may choose to upgrade my speakers soon.

thanks for any help!
Geoff
geoffgarcia
jvogt
212 posts
 
If you could sacrifice the remote, either of the
above are outstanding preamps. The ML-1 is an early
Levinson, but has superb soundstaging, taught bass,
and a very clean, nonfatiguing high end. I bought one
about 7 years ago for $900 and sold it last year on
eBay for $1050, and I've seen some sell for even more.
It is an excellent value around $1000. The SP-14 has
an excellent phono section, is very rich and dynamic,
and is very configurable. It too can be had around
$1000. Both have a ready market for resale.

I can't think of any preamps in that price range with
a remote which offer the build quality, excellent
performance and retention of resale value that these
two possess.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
How about a Rogue 99 to go with your 88?
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
You may want to give the BAT VK3i a try. Some are configured with a remote. Make sure you get one with RCAs and XLRs. Its a tube unit, has a unity gain setting for HT by-pass, and will be two or three orders of magnitude better tnan the Denon. It should be right in your ball-park and the remote is mostly just volume and mute. Does not have a seperate sub out, but has both XLR and RCA out, so you can check with BAT about ability to drive a sub. Outstanding customer service.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
If your sub has a high pass connection I would use it for a music only system. The high pass connects to the speaker terminals of your power amp, so an extra pre-out for the sub is not needed.
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