A question I'm sure you've never heard before....


I am spanking new to this site and board. I suppose if this is anything like any number of the various subject boards I've been on, this will be a topic that the regulars will have all heard and have hashed and rehashed, but here goes.

I am doing things a bit differently than some, I would guess. I've started with my front end and have resurrected my old Linn LP12 Valhalla with Ittok LVII (and yes, I do plan to upgrade in the future but not right away). I got an exceptional deal on a Benz H2 "Woody" so I bought it. I have a McCormack DNA-225 SS amp. Now I want to add either a preamp and phono stage or a combined unit such as a CJ PV10A, or the like. Would like to spend maybe $1600 tops (used- I prefer to let others take the depreciation on most components and I have heard that Audiogon is a reliable place to buy). Then, I will select speakers and, finally, speaker cables to match the speakers and interconnects to complement the other components with the largest budget earmarked to the preamp/amp connection.

I like medium to heavy rock (but not metal), jazz (mostly sax and piano), blues, and, like most everyone, female vocalists. My room is about 18X26 feet (bigger than what I'd prefer for a stereo room). Stereotypical plaster walls, carpeting, drapes, wood, metal, stuffed furnishings.

I wanted the McCormack for various reasons and now I want to match to it a TUBE preamp and phono stage, or a combo unit. Looked at some EAR products, which I really liked, but their price did not like me. I really would like to stay in the $1600 used neighborhood if possible.

If anyone out there has experience in this area, please lay your recommendations on me. After I make this part of my decision, I will be back to pick your brains more with regard to speakers! I know you all just dying for that time to come. HA... At present I am contemplating PSB, Proac, Sililoquy, and Martin Logan – and, if I can get a great deal, maybe Dunlavy. I plan to spend about $3K on the pair of whatever I get.

Anyone wanna chime in on the preamp/phono part for now? I’d be obliged to all with constructive opinions – those that want to poke fun of my meager outlay can remain quiet and, instead, sell me their cast offs on the cheap! ;-)
motdathird
Welcome to the 'Gon! I noticed an Audio Research SP9 for sale here today, it does have a very good phono stage. It does NOT have a remote control, if that's important to you then perhaps you ought to consider another preamp, perhaps a CJ? Assuming remote control doesn't matter to you, then the AR is a great piece of gear at a reasonable price. I owned one for quite a while and enjoyed it, but eventually moved up to BAT preamp with external phono stage. All-in-all the SP9 represents a terrific value for roughly $1000, pretty hard to beat even if you spend the extra $600 on another preamp. Best, Jeff
You should be able to get an audible illusions[if you're lucky with the gold phono board]...you have to make sure the AI has MC, not MM,[they don't have both] another real sleeper would be the copeland 301Mk11 if the phono works with that catridge....speakers,,,,oh boy.....I'm going to suggest also newform researchR45's, a speaker that will make you love listening to your music, speakers are personable and you have listed speakers there I also like, except I haven't heard Dunlavy. Good luck, for phono, the AI will be hard to beat for the money...Cheers,
CJ bought McCormack when it was about to go under, then put ol' Steve back in charge of his company (divorce sucks). C+J commented on the nice match that happens between the CJ preamps and McCormack amps. I have used a CJ PV11L with a DNA.5 and a DNA.5 Rev A, and it tryly was a great match. I'm using Rogue and Cary products now, but the CJ stuff was great. I wanted a remote controlled integrated amp, so I decided to give up the classic PV-11L. I hear great things about the Rogue 99 preamp, which is supposed to have a great phono stage, and has a great company behind it (I'm absolutely positive about this). I've never heard it, though. I prevously owned a CJ PV 10AL, and it wasn't as refined as the '11L but it was really nice sounding, nevertheless.
good luck.