I like multi-functionality as well.
One of the preamps that caught my eye was Tact RCS series. I don't think they're around anymore.
Should I Switch Preamps?
Hi all, I've got the itch to change things up... I'll try not to make this too lengthy. I've been using an Odd Coda preamp... when looking for a pre in 2010, I contacted Doug at Coda. At that time Coda was switching over from the Line Stage CL to a unit that has phono built in CP.... He had 1 CL circuit boards left, but was out of CL chassis's, but had 1 Windows Continuum 4 Chassis. So I own a Coda CL that looks like a Continuum 4. At the time I had the very best Sumo Model Nine that I had ever seen... Back in the my Marcof/SpeakerCraft Days, we used to Sell Sumo and Modded many.... I snagged a Nine and took it to Ed Martin of Marcof.... He looked at the circuit carefully at one time, he debated Jim B about some things in this amp, but cost was an issue so the Nine Is what it Is.... Ed took this Nine and transformed it. Well, I had a lightening strike about 2 years ago and lost my Nine. I purchased a Coda Unison 3.1 to use until I decided what to do.... You guys that know this Integrated know that it is 125 watts to 8 and 250 to 4 with the first 35 watts being Class A.....I finally took my Old Sumo to Ed, the original outputs are obsolete. he has found a Motorola that he can do a few mods to the amp and make it work fine... so I hope to get my old Sumo back with even more improvements soon....
So my Coda CL.... Coda is so well known for their amps but you just don't hear much about their pre's.... Overall, I have been very happy with this, I've compared it to a Pass X10 and the very picky and Proud X10 owner ended up saying that he couldn't tell them apart. Which isn't surprising considering the Coda heritage....
Still, I have the itch to try something else.... I've decided to sell my Coda integrated and my Coda Pre, get another pre and use some home brewed Abletec Class D amps until my Sumo is back.... I'm just praying that I don't kick myself for letting my Coda go for a song and getting something that don't like as well.
So, even though my thought has searched through tubes, in the past, I got tired of tube rolling and not leaving my pre on and I really think that I'm staying solid state... My budget is preferred to at $1000 to maybe $1700....
My Shortlist as been:
Jeff Rowland Capri
Conrad Johnson Premier 18LS (but I'd like 2 sets of outputs for a sub)
Audio Research LS-12
Bel Canto Pre 2 or Pre 3
Lastly would consider a Classe Six or CP60 or possibly a Muse Model 3 Signature...
Overall, I prefer the rich organic textured mid range of tubes, but the frequency extensions of SS.
Overall sound stage is as important to me as frequency balance...
I've seen at one time or another, every pre on my list within my budget range. Any opinions or other options are appreciated. I will most likely list my Integrated and pre here on Agon first along with a Technics SP25 with an ATP-12T arm that I have filled with dampening putty and it is quite dead.
So My audiophile brothers and sisters, please advise.
Tim
So my Coda CL.... Coda is so well known for their amps but you just don't hear much about their pre's.... Overall, I have been very happy with this, I've compared it to a Pass X10 and the very picky and Proud X10 owner ended up saying that he couldn't tell them apart. Which isn't surprising considering the Coda heritage....
Still, I have the itch to try something else.... I've decided to sell my Coda integrated and my Coda Pre, get another pre and use some home brewed Abletec Class D amps until my Sumo is back.... I'm just praying that I don't kick myself for letting my Coda go for a song and getting something that don't like as well.
So, even though my thought has searched through tubes, in the past, I got tired of tube rolling and not leaving my pre on and I really think that I'm staying solid state... My budget is preferred to at $1000 to maybe $1700....
My Shortlist as been:
Jeff Rowland Capri
Conrad Johnson Premier 18LS (but I'd like 2 sets of outputs for a sub)
Audio Research LS-12
Bel Canto Pre 2 or Pre 3
Lastly would consider a Classe Six or CP60 or possibly a Muse Model 3 Signature...
Overall, I prefer the rich organic textured mid range of tubes, but the frequency extensions of SS.
Overall sound stage is as important to me as frequency balance...
I've seen at one time or another, every pre on my list within my budget range. Any opinions or other options are appreciated. I will most likely list my Integrated and pre here on Agon first along with a Technics SP25 with an ATP-12T arm that I have filled with dampening putty and it is quite dead.
So My audiophile brothers and sisters, please advise.
Tim
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- 39 posts total
Hi Tim, I would recommend against the CJ if you need to run a sub from it, in addition to the main power amp. Not because of the need for a splitter, but because of the impedance issues that are involved. From John Atkinson's measurements: The output impedance was quite low across most of the audioband, at 72 ohms at 20kHz, and a little higher, 183 ohms, at 1kHz. The source impedance rose to a high 1.5k ohms at 20Hz, however, which will result in prematurely rolled-off low frequencies with a power amp having an input impedance much below 20k ohms.My perception is that most powered subs have line-level input impedances of between 5K and 20K. And paralleling that impedance with the input impedance of your power amp would reduce the overall load impedance seen by the preamp considerably further. That same issue would potentially exist, btw, even with preamps providing two sets of outputs, if their output impedance rises to high values at any frequency. In most such designs the two pairs of output jacks are simply jumpered together inside the rear panel, which from the standpoint of impedance compatibility is no different than using a splitter on a single pair of jacks. Regarding the other candidates you mentioned, I can vouch for the Classe CP-60 as being an excellent performer, certainly in the price range they sell for these days. I purchased one here in 2008 for $1350 (the line-stage only version), and used it happily until a couple of years ago when I replaced it with a far more expensive DEQX HDP-5 (which provides myriad signal processing and room correction functions in addition to serving as a preamp). Best of luck. Regards, -- Al |
P.S: It appears that the same impedance compatibility issue might exist in the case of the ARC LS-12. As indicated at arcdb.ws the LS-12 has a recommended minimum load impedance of 10K. The parallel combination of the input impedances of your amp and your sub may or may not meet that criterion depending on their specific values. And that might be the case even if you were to use a balanced connection to one of those components and an unbalanced connection to the other. I would suspect that the unbalanced output of the preamp is internally connected directly to XLR pin 2. Best regards, -- Al |
just looked up my Coda CL... it drove any combination that I have used well... Output impedance single ended is 50 ohms and 100 ohms in balanced... I'll need to look a bit further on the Audio Research. Assuming that your suspicion is correct and it parallels the inputs between balanced and single ended. As well as checking further into my Velodyne input impedance... Thank you for you time brother, You are always a gracious contributor. |
- 39 posts total