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Help me buy a magical pre-amp that doesn't exist

I'm looking for a pre-amp, to go along with my new Behringer A500, with quite specific requirements. So far, it seems that this magical pre-amp does not exist, mostly due to the first requirement

-Costs in line with the Behringer. I will be selling a Rotel RA-02 Integrated amp so I'll have a budget of about $300-500, give or take as I'm willing to throw in some other money too if needed, to work with.

-Good sound, obviously. Neutral, no hiss.

-Solid state. I tend to leave my amps on 24/7 so tubes are frowned upon for this reason.

-Remote control. My laziness demands it.

-Balanced outputs/(at least one) input. I would prefer to run completely balanced, since I'm going into a pro crossover to separate my speakers and bass bins, then to the A500.

-Reasonable cosmetics. I hate the 80ies look. This puts Linn gear I've seen in a bad light that fits pretty much every other requirement.

-MC phono stage! Ooh, I bet you guys all hate me now. There go 99% of the candidates.

-A 12v trigger would be nice too, but it's not a make-or-break feature.

So far, through research and recommendations I've come up with the following, in order of price:

Classe Thirty
Linn LK-1
NAD 116
Classe Five

Anybody know of others? Any thoughts between these four?

The NAD fits every requirement but might not sound as nice as the others. It's also a lot harder to find! Some suggestions or comments would be so greatly appreciated!
nayr2
gregm
3,409 posts
 
You've probably reaqlised fm other comments that none of the active pre's at the price range will do much to improve the system (the opposite).

I suggest you consider a stand-alone phono with motorised volume control and some switching option. Some people offer kits -- and assembled kits (as usual Hagerman comes to mind). You may be able to hit the $ mark with that. The phono will be better and the rest... just play passive.
french_fries
815 posts
 
rowland consonance with mc/mm phono (very good sounding/very quiet even with my vpi aries/benz M-0.9)- $900-$1500 used, depending on condition, etc. silver or black.
no balanced inputs, but has balanced out's. superb sound,
superb remote, built like a tank. i like the way it looks.
the button labels are a little mysterious without a manual.
this once was rated class-A in stereophile. for $300 you can get...?
mechans
3,048 posts
 
You got it doesn't exist if you can deal with this concept maybr A Grahm Slee Phono stage stand alone are said to terrific bargains - they are called Grahm Slee Engineering if you have trouble finding them. I am thinking I will get one. Look them up I rarely see used ones but they are very reasonable if you can keep youself under control. The next issue is simply using a switching box see Eva Manley's site and the volume attenuators the best are now back in production, or you could buy my pre An ARC SP6B legendary phono stage modded and not used by previous owner dfgrom 1985 No it doesnt look 80s at all until 2003 but tubes it uses 12AX7s the ese tubes are now muchg better in modern production the 9TH and only the (9th edition of the Sino o Shuguang are the same tube can be bought for$3 . shoot me an email.
nayr2 OP
5 posts
 
Please stop pushing your own products that in no way fit what I asked for help finding, nor recommending pre-amps not even remotely in my price range!

I'm using a mid-fi integrated amp as a pre-amp, so it won't take much to see an improvement.

For $300-500, I've listed four amps I've had recommended to me on other sites that fit most, if not all, of the requirements; So again this is not a unreasonable question. Just one with uncommon answers.

I would appreciate anything I could add to the list, or opinions on the preamps listed. Thanks!
david99's avatar
david99
1,467 posts
 
I guess the title of your thread is your answer.
What you want doesnt exist.
People are trying to help you,maybe you should chill.
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