2. amps-preamps
  3. 191420-193414

Need suggestions on preamp

I’m mainly a headphone listener so when I got the chance to purchase a pair of Magnepan LRS speakers near my home town, I ran with it. I love Maggies and their midrange smoothness and live performance feel. I was able to find a used Parasound A21 for $1200 on Marketplace which was replacing my Adcom 545. I’m now running into a dilemma where I think the Adcom 545 sounded more detailed to me. I listen to a lot of instrumental music that I know well and I’m not getting the same level of detail as I’m getting with my headphone setup which is running balanced from my RME ADI-2 DAC. I’m using more expensive Audience AU-SX interconnects on those but even when running the RME direct into the amp (since it has volume control) I’m not getting the level of resolution I’m used to with my headphone setup (Hifiman HE1000 with a Serbian Audio HSA-1B amp).

I think the issue might be related to my preamp. I bought a Schiit Saga+ and despite running good NOS tubes or trying out passive mode I’m not getting the resolution I’m looking for. I’m looking for a recommendation on a preamp that costs between $1,000-$2,000 that will max out the resolution of the Parasound while keeping it’s effortless flow and naturalness in tact. Maybe the problem is the speakers and I really should have gone for the LRS+ or 1.7s? I know the room plays a huge role with Maggies but I live in a small apartment so for now I’m looking for any suggestions that can be fixed with gear. Thanks for any help!

128x128hikaru126
yyzsantabarbara
4,885 posts
 

I just sold my LRS+ that I loved in my small office. I lost the office to my kid's new bedroom. I used the Benchmark HPA4 preamp with it. It is the quietest preamp you can find and lets you hear the rest of your gear. 

I used to own the Parasound A21+ and it was great with the HPA4.With my LRS+ I used a CODA #16 and a Sanders Magtech amp with the HPA4. The weakest link in all of this was the LRS+, which is a steal for the price.

I also suggest a sub-woofer with the LRS+ and a preamp that can support a sub. I used the KEF KC62 sub.

 

 

 

dogearedaudio's avatar
dogearedaudio
145 posts
 

If you like the coherent soundstage of the Maggies, consider a used pair of ProAc 1SCs or Tablettes, or larger ones if your room will accommodate.  It's odd to me that people around here rarely mention them, but years ago I replaced my small Maggies with ProAc Response 2's and I've never looked back.  They have the same seamless presentation and "disappearing act" but better bass and MUCH easier to drive, which opens up a whole different range of amplifiers in the 20-40 watt range.  A truly "classic" speaker like the LS3/5 and the Maggies, but more satisfying.  Beautiful vocals and solo instruments, and capable of full-scale classical as well.

maggiefan8
28 posts
 

a used Cary SLP-98P should fit your budget, and it’s one of the great values in Audiophilia.  If the Parasound is running out of juice look for a used Sanders ESL amp, best amps I’ve ever heard with Maggies, and the used older versions will be fairly comparable in price with your Parasound.  Just MUCH more powerful, amps are build for Maggies.

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audiophile_rabbit_hole
2 posts
 

Fantastic preamps and Arek is fantastic to work with. 
 

https://www.facebook.com/khozmoacoustic?mibextid=LQQJ4d

 

 

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