Schiit Aegir pre-amp recommendation
I have a newly acquired Aegir and currently matched to Kef Ls50s with a NAD 326BEE as the preamp.
Does anyone have any experience with a non-Schiit preamp that matches well with the Aegir?
My thoughts: I've had a lot amps in my day and I think the Aegir is pretty darn good for what it is especially if matched with a class A pre (like the 326bee). I like it's small form factor and for a small room with the KEF LS50s it is pretty satisfying. So I liked to match it with a high quality preamp with remote and phono pre. Hopefully it's small form also but this along with the phono pre are not deal breakers.
I was thinking LTA MZ2. I like it's small form and that it will bring in a little tube softness.
Any thoughts hopefully someone with experience
@lmartinez_02170Yes, I use the DAC from the C2500. I AB tested this DAC vs the CXNV2 and it was a very big improvement over the CXN. I still use the CXN but not it's internal DAC. I really love the C2500. It was such an improvement even my Amazon echo listening wife declared it sounded amazing and demos it to her friends ;). I purchased it used mid 2021 and I couldn't be happier with the value/$ I received. |
Thanks varchard this is good information about the DAC. Also ghdprentice I appreciate your guidance about pre-amps. It makes sense to me...if your a separates guy :). In the past many would say the speakers are the most important item to base your system on but I got what your saying. My requirements remain the same and I do think it's challenging. My current setup is Schiit Aegir, Kef LS50s with NAD preamp (class A) is very good in a small room (11x14). Also while I'm flexible in my setup, I don't typically go for large components. The preamp I'm looking for is most likely class a, small form with a phono pre. My budget which I didn't state before is about 2k at most. The most intriguing preamp, I've been able to find so far is the LTA MZ2. The topping pre90 is just wrong for me, so many balanced inputs...really not necessary in my opinion. The parasound doesn't measure well The benchmark is over my budget. The MAC C2500 is a possibility as a used buy because I do use a dac (so, it's 3 components). Although I would be moving away from small separates. The LTA MZ2 just about fits the bill - small form factor, class a, remote but no phono pre and affordable 1300.00 in its base form. It's also gotten pretty good reviews. I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on it. Any other thoughts? And thanks to everyone who has commented.
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I have an Aegir that I really enjoy. It was originally paired with a Saga+ but the problem is that, as only a unity gain preamp, it was just a bit short in reaching my desired listening volume (about 85 dB max) even though the amp had power still available. I ended up switching to a Schiit Lyr 3 which offers two gain levels (about 3db and 17 dB.) The 3 dB gain boost was sufficent to give me the extra I needed, and the Lyr sounds just a good to me as the Saga. The Lyr does have some drawbacks -- it has only one input, and there is no remote, but I don't need either of those features so it is perfect for my situation. (And, the Lyr also gives you an excellent headphone amp that the Saga doesn't have.) So, just another data point for you. |
I have LS50 Metas and just added a Freya + in front of my McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe. I think the Freya + is an exceptional preamp. It replaced an Adcom GFP-750 and an Acurus LS-11. Both were very good solid state preamps for the money. I disagree with the notion that LS-50s don’t pair with tubes. They do. If you’re really set against having tubes though, get the Freya S. It’s $600 bucks and you can return it if you don’t like it in your system. Happy shopping! |
