2. amps-preamps
  3. 129020-3652

I need a good Preamp

My current system:
Preamp:           MAC C2300
Amps:              Krell FPB 350mcx mono blocks
Speakers:        B+W 801 Series II

My MAC C2300 just quit working and really I need it in another room to pair with a MAC MC452 once it gets repaired. So, I need suggestions on what will mate up well with my Krells? I would like to spend $8k or less but I would consider going higher. I am thinking a line stage even though I did use the phono on the MAC some. I plan to add a phono amp to my system later. I just play cds with this system. Reading on this forum I sort of lean towards a used ARC 5SE or maybe a Cary SLP05 but I am open to suggestions. There are no audio shops close to me so I will be buying without getting to demo anything. I'm not too knowledgeable on stereo gear so I need some help. Thanks for the responses.
wemfan
tooblue
1,901 posts
 
That is one generous budget, with that said I just spent 4 years running preamps in and out of my system settling on a Lamm LL2.1 that  I just love. Other preamps that were hard to let go were the First Sounds MkIII  and the Audible Illusions Modulas 3B with the John Curl phone boards and could live with any of the three with no regrets, the 15 dB attenuation switch on the Lamm was the push for my system. There are some really great preamps available and some I tried that were supposed to be great but left a lot to be desired in my system. Good luck
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t
1,603 posts
 
ARC Ref 5SE
mechans
3,048 posts
 
What type sound are you hoping to achieve.  Did you like the McIntosh sound, or are you really aiming for something else.  The ARC and the Cary sound very differently.
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