2. amps-preamps
  3. 159133-149575

Need preamp recommendation

Hi everyone :)

I am in the market for a 2-ch preamp to go with my power amp, and am looking for some recomendations. Will prob go used, as I think I can get more value for my money. I would like to limit the sale price @ $4k.

Do I want this?:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Krell-Illusion-II-preamplifier/254393285505

Maybe something else?

Thanks in advance.


riffwraith
mesch
3,519 posts
 
You might check out Aric Audio. He makes a great all tube preamp called the  Special. I own it and it is wonderful.
acefactory
66 posts
 
Yet another vote for Backert Labs - great sounding and fantastic customer service.
soix
9,642 posts
 
The Don Sachs preamp is just a dressed up VTA SP14.  Much prettier and about $1000 more.
I don’t believe that’s true.  Last I looked, Don uses a slew of key premium parts that if used in the SP14 would make their prices much more comparable.  Making it sound like the Sachs pre just has a prettier cabinet is inaccurate and sells it way short IMO. 


antigrunge2
1,426 posts
 
If you mainly use digital audio, I’d recommend going with a DAC/Preamp rather than separate units. If it’s just attenuation you are after get a passive e.g. Wavac att-s. Alternatively get a Bakoon amp and use the built-in attenuation.
riffwraith OP
20 posts
 

Thank you for all of the great suggestions! I had no idea
that there would be so many good options.

So, this morning I decided to go with a brand new decware ZTPRE. I called this morning, to see what the lead time is - four months. Holy holy!

I now have my eye on a previously recommended Rotel RC-1570. Brad new, it’s 1k, as oppposed to 3k for the ZTPRE. I know that price does not dictate sound quality, but I am also of the mindset that you get what you pay for.

Then I found this:

https://jsqt.smugmug.com/JSQT-Sales/n-JRDXgd/

but I cant seem to find these people to see if the Rumba is still avail.

Ahhhh....choices, choices.....

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