2. amps-preamps
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Best Preamp New or Used up to $3,000 ??

Okay I am listening. The models I am looking at are:
Audible Illusions L3 .$2,000+
Aesthetic Calypso.$2,000+.
Prima Luna Dialogue $2,200
EAR 834L.$1,700.
Benchmark LA4 (New) $2,600.
McIntosh 2500.$4,000 (Over budget but has tone controls and Phono stage)
Other Equipment: Cary MK 120-s, Oppo 205, Older Tannoys FSMs-very efficient.
Music I enjoy: Vocals, 70 db, Near field position.
So if you have owned any of the above, please share your experience.
I am attracted to these brands as they seem to place value on things related to musicality.
Separate quality Power supply, Dual Mono setup, Quality components. Remotes (except EAR)
So what am I not valuing that I should be?
Thanks in advance.

128x128firstnot
firstnot's avatar
firstnot OP
248 posts
 
Wow a lot of great suggestions, thank you for the ideas!

Who has an opinion on this?

As I do not have a preamp now I am running the Oppo direct to the Cary
which leads me to another question: Will a good preamp improve or detract from the sound?

Thanks,
Jeff
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
@atmasphere Do your comments on balanced extend to Backert?  I was told those were not just convenience connections.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,604 posts
 
@twoleftears
Its a bit hard to sort out from their website how their preamps work, but it appears that the balanced connections use transformers both for input and output.
If that is the case, then it might support the standard. This is because a transformer can have a floating input and a floating output, which is what is needed to support the standard (in particular the floating output). Part of the standard is the ability to drive low impedances, and its not clear from any of the information I've seen online whether that is possible, but a phone call could sort that out.
recluse
268 posts
 
+1 On the oppo 205 direct to cary.

 I listen to CD sacd DVD and blue ray concerts 99% time, classical

I have used both oppo and cary mk120.

The volume control on the oppo can be lowered to 40 without significant bit stripping
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
firstnot OP
As I do not have a preamp now I am running the Oppo direct to the Cary
which leads me to another question: Will a good preamp improve or detract from the sound?

Thanks,
Jeff
If you like the sound you are getting then leave it be, as it will be the most transparent/dynamic you can get.

But should you feel the need to "color" eg: distort the sound, you can do it by adding a preamp, but they all sound different coloration distortions, so you’ll be on a bit of a merry go-round to find the right one that suits your needs.
As the fabled "perfect" preamp "sound like a piece of wire" adding or detracting nothing which is what your doing now by going direct.

Cheers George
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