Really depends on what improvements and sound characteristics you’re looking for.
Sunday dreaming about preamps...
I am closing in on a turntable choice, so now I am thinking about what I see as the next weak point in my system. Right now, I have sources feeding an Audio Research SP16L which feeds an Art Audio PX-25 power amp and Blumenhofer Genuin FS2s. The SP16 was ARC’s entry level pre-amp years ago and definitely a good start, but I am thinking that’s the place where I can get better.
With that in mind, aiming for tube designs, I looked at a couple of preamps both priced at ~$10k which I know for some here would be a step down but for me would be very much at the upper limit right now.
Local dealers trade in ARC, Aesthetix, BAT, Hegel, NAD, Quicksilver, PrimaLuna, Quad, Rogue, Rotel and some others which are only SS.
On an initial search. the BAT VK-80 and the ARC LS28se, would seem to both be candidates to aspire to. Who wins that shootout? What else should I consider?
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@ghdprentice I took a look at your system. You are on a different level! |
It sort of depends on what kind of sound you are after and whether you are contemplating any other component changes, such as a different amp. When you say preamp, do you mean something with a built in phono stage? What features do you require (e.g., remote control, balance control, mono, phase inversion, etc)? |
@larryi good questions. In terms of what I am looking for, most important is a full sound. I am not aiming for analytical. I also will have a separate phono stage. Beyond that, I would love a remote and a volume control with much finer gradations than the sp16. I would want a mono switch. I have never thought about phase, so I have no idea how important that is. Something to figure out, I guess. |
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