2. amps-preamps
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New preamp: lamm ll2 or Cary slp 05

I haven't decided if I'm going to go the integrated or separates route, but if I get separates I need a preamp and was wondering what would be some good preamps that I could hang on to for a long time. The Cary and lamm both seem to be well reviewed and the lamm seems like it would be half the cost if bought used. The power amp would either be tube (something like a VTL), solid state (pass labs) or maybe the Moscode hybrid, and the speakers will most likely be Dynaudio monitors, although this isn't certain either.
jibbonacci
ajackson1
156 posts
 
DITTO. We all wish we had this advice when we started. The Cary SLP's output impedance is pretty high 400 ohms (I believe) so your SS amp sellection will be somewhat limited. The Pass Labs amps are generally not a good fit for the SLP due to their low input impedance.

So the above folks are right, save $$$ do it the right way.
jibbonacci OP
31 posts
 
Thanks everyone for the comments and it does make sense. However I'm not exactly sure how to isolate the speakers I want since they'll alway be playing through a specific amp/preamp. I guess I should choose the speaker and amp first and then focus on the pre.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to stick with the dynaudios. I've heard them through a simaudio integrated and a pathos hybrid integrated and liked the speakers (I think) but not necessarily the amps.

Ajackson1: thanks for the info on the Cary, at least now I know it wouldn't be a good match for SS amps.
shredder's avatar
shredder
113 posts
 
The Cary is not a bad match for all SS amps, only ones with low input impedance such as Pass. I have a Cary slp-05 with Classe CAm-350's-excellent combo.
ajackson1
156 posts
 
Just to clarify. I am not saying u cannot use Cary SLP with SS amps. It just needs to be matched carefully. I do have the SLP and like it a lot. Read the SLP review in Stereophile, it will provide u with most of the info u need.
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
Buy Cary's awesome CAD 500 MB amps to match with the SLP 05 and not impedence match problem!!

You know Ajackson1 this is great info, I was not aware there could be a problem with impendence matching. What happens if there is a disparity in the impendence?

Is it like matching your cartridge and the phono pre? I was thinking about a new preamp and along with moving up to the SLP 05 I was considering the ARC Ref 3 or the McIntosh 2200 and I hadn't considered matching them to the my amps which I don't want to change.

Thanks for the info.
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