2. amps-preamps
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Need balanced pre with HT bypass/remote/

I recently bought some great used ATC SCM 150ASL active loudspeakers on this site. They are wonderful replacements for my VMPS RM/X's, but they have put my great-sounding Modwright SWL 9.0 SE into a tizzy. Due to the SWL being single-ended there are numerous ground and buzz/hum issues that have arisen because of rca-to-XLR, etc.. Some grounding straps have helped quiet it up in 2 channel but the HT bypass continues to have noise now. Jensen isolators may help, too, but it's getting crazy. Anyway, I'm also susceptible to phase inversion and I use to be able to swap speaker leads when i thought things would sound better that way; I can no longer do that with the ATC's (no speaker leads). The Modwright inverts phase, period.

So, I am in the market for not simply a replacement for the Modwright, but I want a significant upgrade if I'm gonna do this. The table stakes include true balanced outs, remote control, HT bypass (or unity gain-fixed gain), and an invert phase switch if possible. The following are a list of contenders based on my internet surfing over the past couple of days. Any opinions on these would be very helfpul. I've read quite a few user opinions, and most list the Ref 3 as tops, but a couple folks claim they like the new LS26 better, and it's almost half the price (neither are likely available used). The other top contenders would be possiblly available used or new:
* ARC Ref 3
* ARC LS26
* ARC Ref 2 Mk 2
* BAT VK-51SE
* Aesthetix Calypso
* Pass Labs x0.2 (no invert function)

My 2 channel equipment is mainly:
* a wonderful sounding Modwright tubed-modded Denon 3910 for redbook and hirez
* a SOTA Saphire tt into a Dynavector P-75 stage (will soon upgrade SOTA, and possibly Dyna down the line)
* ATC SCM150ASl active speakers with triamps internal

Note: Although I also have a 5.1 and 7.1 setup in this room, driven by the modded 3910 hirez surround and DVD into a Denon 4806 acting as a surround pre (soon to Anthem D2 for balanced needs into ATC surrounds, as well) it's mainly my 2 channel sound I'm focused on now.

Feel free to add a pre of your choice, but it needs to include the basics. Thx much,
Ted
tedmbrady
tedmbrady OP
208 posts
 
Getheleadout,
No, keep it coming. it's refrshing to see someone so enamored with a company and its founder. Good stuff.

OB,
I've been reading your posts here and at AVS. Have you heard or know anyone who has heard bot the LS26 and the Ref3? A poster on Stereophile's forum claimed he liked it better than the Ref3!? I realize many say it's slightly favored over the Ref2Mk2, so it seems to be a bargain...but the age old, is it 90% of the Ref3 and I'll forever be kicking myself for the other 10%? I realize this hobby leads us into the diminishinbg returns area fairly quickly, and then the slope becomes quite steep.

I appreciate evryone's coments so far. Here in N. Ohio we have little if any hi-end dealer network, much worse than 15 yrs ago. Luckily I travel the East Coast and will do my best to hear these pre's in varied (yuck) environments. It'll be like comparing apples to ash trays, though. Goodwin's has a few that they might be able to set up in a fairly consistent environment; I'll try there very soon.

I haven't seen anything on the BAT42 yet. And I'll look into the others, too. I realize that I can't drive all the cars in the world, but I'll try to pick a few and go with it.

Cured the noise on the HT bypass for the time being (cheater'd the surround processor) but this needs to end soon. Keep 'em coming, though.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
FWIW, a group of us (4 to be precise) A-B-C2-D'd my VAC Ren vs a Calypso, a Lamm LL2 and a Doshi. There was no comparison. The VAC quite superior to all but the Doshi, and between the 2 it was a chocolate vs vanilla comparison. No winner just personsal taste. At new prices, the Doshi was the value leader for sure, but I do not know if they are available as balanced or w/HT pass-thru. Remember that the VAC will accept balanced in and pass balanced out but i do not BELIEVE is has true balanced internal circuitry.
tedmbrady OP
208 posts
 
I believe that Nick will do HT bypass, and he'll definitely do transformer balanced outputs (as well as inputs). The remote volume is nothing he'll touch, though, so something likethe Palcette volume control would have to be a mate.

I'm not worried about full balanced throughout, just that the ground is done right so as to eliminate any hum issues by way of XLR.
sotaphile
22 posts
 
I had the BAT 31SE in my system for several weeks, and I thought that it had a noticeable roll-off in the high end. I ended up buying a Cary SLP05, which has balanced outputs, remote control, and HT bypass. It does not have a phase switch, but it does offer a tube-based headphone circuit if that's of interest to you. In my system, this preamp is incredible - providing detail, wide soundstaging, as well as punch. Good luck!
rneclps
18 posts
 
Try blue circle, they have what your looking for.
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