Best Amp/Pre-amp Combo for 1500

How about letting us know what type of speakers your using, types of music that dominate your listening time, size of your room, etc... This would give those willing to suggest something a little better idea as to where your coming from. After all, something that requires LOTS of power will never work well with a small ( yet excellent sounding ) amp, bass heavy speakers will not work with "warm" electronics, etc... There is a LOT more to building a GOOD SYSTEM than just buying "good components" and wiring them all up. It is a matter of finding pieces that work together for best system synergy. Sean
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i highly recommend electrocompaniet, if ewe insist on solid-state. check out the ec-3 or ec-4 integrated, or an ec-4.5 or ec-4.6 preamp w/an electrocompaniet amp - aw60/75/100. if ya buy used, it will be ~$1500.

personally, i'd recommend an electro amp w/a (melos) tube preamp - this combo works great for me. alternatively, i'd check out the pathos classic one integrated amp - a hybrid, w/solid-state amp & tubed preamp. retailing for ~$2k, i've seen it used for ~$1200. it has remote control & is drop-dead georgeous, if appearance means anything to ya... ;~)

good luck, doug s.

After my initial post, a few other thoughts struck me. If you are willing to buy used gear, you should seriously consider the Adcom GFP-750 preamp, one of the best on the market (rated a "Class A" component by Stereophile). The "750" is often listed on Audiogon for about $750, and you will simply not do better for the money. You could pair the GFP-750 with used amps from Adcom (5500), B&K, or Rotel and have a very nice system for under $1500.

Used you could do a Conrad Johnson PF2 and MF2200 for around $1500.

How about pairing a set of Audiosource monoblocks and a Teac "Gold Faced" preamp ? You can get these BRAND NEW for well under $1500 from J & R Music World. The "cool" thing is that all of these components are "pint sized" and they won't take up much room at all. You'll be the envy of EVERYONE that you know......

C'mon people. BE FOR REAL. How can you make blind ( and deaf ) suggestions with NO background on the situation whatsoever ??? You have NO idea as to what this person listens to, what the source components are, the sonics of the speakers or what kind of a load they would present to the amp, how big the room is, what kind of cables they're using, etc....

Seeing stuff like this reminds me of walking into Best Buy or Circuit City. They have what are SURELY the best components for you, regardless of the situation.... Sean

PS... bring on the negative votes. I thought that this thread and others like it need a BIG dose of "reality" injected. No offense to the original poster who might not have known what is really needed for someone to make "educated" suggestions.