Most Flexible Audiophile Preamp


The Hovland Preamp HP-100 offers 7-8, depending on if you have the optional phono or not, line options. This I love since I have so many line sources including reel to reel, cassette, CD recorder, DVD recorder/player, VCR, tube and solid state tuners etc. I liked the flexibility of multiple deck dubbing of old but realize this is all but gone now. Most preamps lately are limited to only 3 to 5 sources other than the Home Theatre Preamps. To me the HT preamps provide access to crappy hollywood sources which to me is opposite to living a quality, questioning life. I like a few movies but do not want to be controlled by it. Controlled by throwing lots of money at it and making a room and my time a prisoner to that use. I do not want to dilute musical quality for a zillion video input/output options and fruitless attempts to keep up with zillion speaker output options. Something about this HT built in obsolescence stuff (never ending video/audio formats, HDTV options created while others abandoned) seems very irresponsible and true to the marketing makes the need in the USA mentality !

What are your choices for most musical flexible preamp? When replying if you can give the number of line inputs, recording options, and output options I am sure others will greatly appreciate this information. If the unit has a phono preamp built in what is your opinion of the quality of the phono preamp. Price for me can range up to $8000 new or used.
nanderson
The McIntosh C2200 provides a lot of flexibility. 3 outputs, either balanced or unbalanced. 8 inputs, 4 of which can be balanced. One tape output. Phono input among the 8 inputs. I have not used the phono stage yet. It has gotten OK reviews -- "not as good as some but you can consider having gotten it for free" summarizes one I recall.
Is ATC currently distributed in USA? Don't overlook the ATC SCA-2 pre. Currently 4k in UK, it has 6RCA and 2XLR inputs, with provision for two tape recorders. Separate listen & record selectors. XLR and RCA main outputs, though you now have to request the RCA inclusion. Optional reference quality phono board. I've just auditioned - and just ordered - this unit; it's significantly superior to the KRC-3 I had before. It's also equally happy to run RCA or XLR in/out, or to mix it up. A rare flexibility in that respect!
All I originally wanted was a pre with 2 XLR ins, but the SCA-2 has truly amazed.
"All switching, setting of volume, balance, absolute polarity, mono/stereo, etc. can be done by remote control."

SF Line-3 does that, too.

Kal
Oh, and while I am at it, the much less expensive Line-1 and Line-2 have the same capabilities.

Kal
I second the vote for the Levinson #32. It also has the flexibility in becoming an integral part of a Home Theater setup, without subtracting from its two channel sonics.
I've seen them sold on Audiogon for $9500. without the phono stage.