Best Preamp For $1200 Used

Buy an Adcom GFP-750 ($750 or so used)and quit while you're ahead--you can spend much much more--and actually get worse performance. I also liked the Krell KAV-250p if you want a more upscale name, and those can be had for $1200 used. If you need tubes to add a bit of euphony and take the edge off CD, the Rogue Audio Ninety-nine preamp is nice for the price (very good bass & dynamics and a sweet plausible sonic portrait) and should be in your price range used. Happy Hunting, Frank

The Conrad Johnson PV10 is full function tube and is a giant killer, it retails for around $1200 - you can get on this site for about half that. It's sound is definetly on the tube side; warm, full on the bottom end and extended and smooth on the top end. It's addicting. Good luck with your choice.

The advice so far is pretty good. At the $1200 range, you have several choices, and two of them are Adcom: 1. Adcom GFP-750 - an outstanding preamp at retail price of $1250, or around $900 used. 2. Adcom GTP-750 pre/pro, which can be gotten used for around $1300. This unit is all-digital and has Dolby Digital, DTS, and Pro-Logic built in, plus other DSP features. Has 3 digital and 6 analog inputs. 3. Bryston BP-20 or BP-25. Bryston builds great gear, and all their stuff has a 20-year warranty. You couldn't go far wrong with any of these units.

GO WITH AN AUDIO RESEARCH LS2, LS2MK2, LS2B, OR LS2BMK2,(REMOTE CONTROL WAS AN OPTION ON THE UNITS). THESE UNITS WILL BE MUCH MORE CLEAR AND DYNAMIC THAN THE ADCOM PLUS THE AUDIO RESEARCH WILL ALWAYS BE IN DEMAND AND WILL NOT LOOSE MUCH MORE OF ITS VALUE THAN THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.I HAVE SEEN THE LS2 AT $800 AND LS2BMK2 AT $1200 SO TAKE YOUR PICK ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT MODELS. I PERSONALLY OWNED ALL BUT THE LS2MK2 AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE UNITS AS THE BUILD QUALITY IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE ADCOM IMHO.

.... Sonic Frontiers Line 1; neutral, detailed, smooth, and very well built-- should be available used for $1200-1300. Happy Hunting. Craig.