2. amps-preamps
  3. 1257818553

Integrated to use as preamp for now?

OK my pre is going into the shop and will take awhile to be fixed. I am looking for a suggestion for an integrated that can be used as a preamp just for the 2 months or so then be converted for use in an office system later. I figure I need 50 watts for the system later but it also needs a decent pre with an out for use inline to my amp. SS or tube doesnt really matter. Like to keep it under $600.
joekapahulu
slanski62
42 posts
 
What about a used Peachtree Audio Decco? Should be around $500 and it meets your stated specs.

Steve
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Audio Refinement? A little laid back but doesn't do anything wrong. Should be available for about $400-$500.
Other "usual suspects" would be Rega, Linn, Creek, Music Hall, or NAD.
loomisjohnson
1,944 posts
 
within your budget, arcam alpha or a65/75 or music hall 25 should do ya nicely. i'm currently using an arcam alpha 9 as a pre and i like it mucho.
ryder
1,690 posts
 
Rega Brio3, no remote
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Re the possibility you mentioned of a tube integrated, keep in mind that a tube power amplifier (or the power amplifier section of a tube integrated amplifier) should NEVER be operated without a speaker load (or equivalent, in the form of a high power non-inductive resistor). That is particularly true if a music signal is going through the amplifier.

If you do want to consider a tube integrated amplifier, I would suggest choosing one that has both preamp out and power amp in jacks, so that you could operate it with no signal going into the power amp section. You could then attach a relatively low power resistor like this one to each of the amplifier's two output channels, as a dummy load.

Regards,
-- Al
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