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Suggestions on a balanced preamp?

My electronics are currently 60 feet from my speakers (as measured by speaker cable length). I was thinking of getting a balanced preamp (a Linn2250), sticking it between the speakers, and running balanced lines from the preamp->amp.

Currently I have an onkyo integrated home theater (fairly new, $1000ish retail, don't know which one) HD reciever with RCA out. I also have vandersteen quatros and linn preamp/amp with RCA connections. I was thinking of getting a preamp with RCA in and balanced outputs and running the HD reciever into an AUX input of the preamp and balanced from preamp to amp.

When playing CDs, I would just go CD->pre->amp and not include the HD receiver.

First, does all that sound reasonable?

Second, is there a reasonably priced (1-1.5k) preamp that would work, that includes a remote for volume? I suppose if it didn't include a remote, I could run the CD->HD receiver->pre->amp but that seems like it wouldn't be as optimal, especially because I have a cheapish integrated HD receiver. I figure the HD standards keep evolving so better to spend the money on quality amps/preamps that I keep forever.

Third, is there some collective wisdom that would steer me in a different direction?

Thanks for reading this far,

- Sprangle
sprangle
larryski2
37 posts
 
Another suggestion would be the Ayre K5xe. It has two balanced and two rca inputs, any one of which can be programed to be the HT bypass input. Used, they run around 2K. I added one to my HT system, and now my two channel rocks.
lcouplin's avatar
lcouplin
36 posts
 
Just today, there are two Pass Labs pre amps listed, one the single chassis and the other is the two piece. Both are within your range. The way the pass works is to have all signals balanced, check this at the pass site, even the rca are treated as balanced once in the circuit. i love mine, and have had the BAT, Placette, and several others. Will drive the distances you want.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
You need a preamp with a good output to drive a long cable. I'd recommend pro gear - for example the DAC1 HDR. Most pro preamps will have a more powerful output stage than the consumer equivalents and are better able to handle the higher capacitance...
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almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Keep in mind that the preamp you choose should have low output impedance, and the cabling you choose should have low capacitance (such as the Blue Jeans cables Bob suggested).

Balanced connections do not negate the possibility that high output impedance in combination with high cable capacitance (which is proportional to length) will roll off the upper treble. At least some of the BAT preamps, and some of the Pass Labs preamps, have worrisomely high output impedances in that respect (e.g. 750 to 1000 ohms). The Ayre should be fine, as should the Benchmark for at least some of its output attenuator settings.

Regards,
-- Al
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