2. amps-preamps
  3. 1219404651

New guy needs firstpre amp

Hi folks, rather than take over a previous thread, thought that I would start a new one. I am buying seperates for the first time. I have Nuforce ref v2 se's, B&W 805s's, Ayre cdp.
I am a soundstage and imaging fan. I really like to see musicians in space.
I have a $2k budget this time out. I also need ht pass. Lastly, I would like lower gain / more fine tuning from a volume standpoint. Here is what seems to fit the bill so far and I am sure any would be great for a first pre:
The nuforce p9
the JRDG capri
the cj 17ls
the pass labs x2.5
are there any others in that price range that I am missing?
Thanks in advance to all. This really is a great community.
jimmy3993
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hi Jimmy3993, no I have not had the opportunity of auditioning a Pass preamp, so I can't provide you with a direct finding. For what it matters, according to BlueBook, the Pass 2.5 was released in 2002, while the Capri was released in 2007. I know just a little about Capri internals enough to be 'dangerous', but have no info on X2.5. Capri is built around a very fast TI Burr Brown differentially balanced opamp labelled OPA1632.
clio09
3,374 posts
 
I'll second the Capri. It's a nice fit on your budget. I just bought one and have put about 500 hours on it. Very good soundstage and imaging, extremely quiet and as the volume control is very good as well. It also has a polarity switch (not via remote control though, bummer) which I like to play with and a balance control with .5db steps. I use it in balanced mode and it sounded better to me this way versus single ended.
jimmy3993 OP
141 posts
 
Thanks to all who chimed in. new guy decided to try the jrdg capri. will comment on my system when it is put together. Next for cables...
and a new thread.
jimmy3993 OP
141 posts
 
Got my capri today. Gonna let it run for a while. But out of the box I can say that it runs really quiet and the range of usable volume is much much wider than the nuforce or my mac integrated. Now if I can just produce images with the same sharpness as the nuforce I will be very happy indeed...
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Jimmy3993, you may find that initially the imaging of Capri is only competent but not spectacular. . . let it play as continuously as you can for a long time. Imaging and staging will improve gradually to about 1000 hours. I found its imaging and staging at least as good as that of my ARC Ref 3.
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