2. amps-preamps
  3. 1426303639

Preamp questions for new vinyl fan

Hello all,
I'm purchasing a Parasound Halo A23 amp to drive Gallo Stradas. I have a chance to get a Consonance Cyber 222 tube preamp for a very nice price. But it doesn't have phono inputs and I'm really starting to enjoy vinyl. I could go ahead anyway and get a separate phono stage, or do something altogether different.
I would love to run fully balanced and have tube rectification, as I love the tube sound and staging, but it needs phono stage too. It would sweeten the SS amp and help with my digital setup
Any suggestions. I'm trying to stay around $500 or less.

Thanks!
Lincoln
lincnabby
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
As ZD so wisely counseled, you are asking far too much of a $500 preamp. I would recommend you find a good used preamp containing a good phono stage for that price - Agon has a ton of them for sale. But it probably will not be balanced. However, balanced is not really important in your setup, single ended is way more than good enough...

-RW-
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
A fully balanced preamp with phono stage for $500??? Wow, good luck finding that!

You may have a chance if you go a bit higher and look at integrated amps.
truman
168 posts
 
Shoot, there's a Quicksilver Full Function Tube preamp with tube rectification
plus a darn good tube MM phono for $450 on auction right now! Not balanced, but....(Disclosure, I once had 4 of these! Still have two. Love 'em.)
lincnabby OP
56 posts
 
Thanks for input, fellas.
So for $500, which preamp would offer a decent phono stage here on Agon?
Or should I just get a decent phono stage separate and run it with the Consonance Cyber 222?

Any further advice is much appreciated?
Lincoln
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
It's going to be tough, if not impossible to find a tube preamp with a phonostage in the $500 ballpark.
The Consonance is a nice unit, but is old enough to possibly need some maintenance. If you know the history of the Consonance or if you can see under the hood, then go for it.

My advice is to get the best line stage tube preamp you can; the phonostages included in preamps are often not as good as a stand-alone phono-pre.
More to discover