2. amps-preamps
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Solid State Preamp recommendation for $2500?

Hi,

I am looking for some Solid State preamp recommendations. My budget is up to $2500, new or used, perhaps could be stretched to $3000 for something really special. I have fairly neutral, easygoing equipment (upgraded McCormack amp and Tyler Acoustics speakers) and like to listen to all kinds of music, but primarily jazz, classical, electronic, and some rock.

Due to changing circumstances in my system (or rather discoveries) I have pretty much determined that a solid state preamp is the only thing that will work in my system. I have an amp and speaker combo that puts out some serious white noise from tube preamps (I have tried 4 so far, all with the same results, and all preamps were OK in other systems). I have tried 2 solid state preamps, both were dead quiet. So, it is either get rid of the amp, or get a solid-state preamp. As my amplifier is a McCormack DNA-125 rev Gold, I would take a serious hit if I were to sell it, and it sounds pretty darn good. I am guessing I would have to spend alot more than the $2200 I have into it to get comparable performance. Unfortunately, I love tube preamps, but am totally fed up with background hiss that is audible at 15 feet and muddies the music.

I did hear a Classe CP-700 recently that sounded wonderful, but it overshoots my budget, and I can't help but think I am paying for features that I don't need, like the cool but (for me) useless interface). I just want a nice 2-channel preamp, old-school/no remote is fine.
dawgcatching
dawgcatching OP
139 posts
 
Guido,

do you recommend the separate power supply with the Rowland? It is on my radar, as it gets many recommendations, and may be the type of clean, neutral sound I am looking for.

I see tons of Capri's listed, one going up seemingly every other day, which makes me wonder if this preamp is very system-dependent. Strange for such a highly-regarded preamp to be so common on the used market. There aren't any Rowland dealers around here: I called one 2-channel specialist in the area who was listed as a Rowland dealer, but they are no longer stocking.
gfontes
8 posts
 
How about a Pass X1?
drjoe
130 posts
 
You might look at a Spectral 30S. You don't need to use Mit in your application. There are two on audiogon. I would think you could get it foe 3K.
Joe
ferrari
617 posts
 
In regards to Classe pre amps the DR 7 ranks as one of the all time best reference preamps. Although not many produced due to its high cost, it remains today as reference for many equipment and music reviewers world wide. Very hard to find and only about one a year show up in the pre owned market and usually sell in the $2,500.00 to $3,500.00 depending on condition, and if comes with box and manual. It is a stunning performer.

As for myself I am using a Coda 01p preamp and could not be happier.
dawgcatching OP
139 posts
 
Update: I got my hands on a Dehavilland to try out, and it was noisy as well. Luckily, there were some other NOS tubes around to try, so I swapped in a Hytron 6SN7 and, for once, my system is quiet! Wow, does it sound good!

I may just go the Dehavilland route! According to Kara, it mates much better with very sensitive amps such as the McCormack. I am going to get a good SS unit in here to compare it with. The Dehavilland's soundstage is incredible and very realistic, but from what I can hear, the Classe was more taut in the low end. Also, on the Dehavilland, some trumpets come across as screechy: I am not sure if it was recorded this way and I just wasn't hearing it before. I heard slightly more detail on the Classe (like violiin strings reverberating that aren't quite there on the Dehavilland).

Thanks for all of the responses. It gives me something to work with if I do decide to get a solid state unit. I wish I had known about the possible incompatibility with a sensitive amp and a tube preamp before I went preamp hunting: then again, the journey is always fun!
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