[pslate]

Good morning intrepid audiophiles!

I am looking for much needed input for a very inexpensive pre-amp.

First the scenario:

With a baby convenience is king, also I like my system to be accessible to my wife and the easy alternative to the TV.

Airport express
V-Dac or Peachtree Dac ITX
Insane, wonderful, Gary Dodd custom SDS-254. Ipicked up on AC. Get better soon sir!
Soundfield Monitor 2

I was running an Emotiva UPA-2 w volume control with it so I could throttle it down. I have no volume control on the SDS-254, and iTunes cannot play at low enough volumes. I just can't resist the Dodd amp as the sound is intoxicating. Also I may want to add another source. I do not want to buy another dac. Small form factor is important to me as well as price, as a new father I am looking for a cheap solution. I was thinking about something similar to the Trends PA-10, however perhaps that unit is past it's prime and there are better options in the same price point http://www.stereomojo.com/Trends%20PA-10%20Tube%20Preamp%20Review/TrendsPA10Preampreview.htm
Maybe another Asian sourced component? I see that Pacific Valve and Grant Fidelity are no longer options. Also I have had very bad luck with HLLY. Any suggestions either solid state tube etc?

Happy new year

[avta]

I'm surprised you're having trouble with iTunes volume. Have you tried the smartphone Remote app to control volume? I'm not certain it works for other than iPhones but its free and very handy.

[srb]

I'm assuming pslate meant that iTunes can't play well at low enough volumes.  Even though it's supposed to have a 24-bit volume control which should give 48dB of attenuation on 16-bit files, my experience is that for some reason it still sounds quite lifeless at low volumes.

I most always have it at 100% and attenuate with an analog preamp, except for the bathroom Airport Express feed where quality is not so important and convenience is king.  There I use the iTunes volume control to attenuate for low level background music and then it gets cranked up to 90+ % when showering anyway.

Steve

[pslate]

Thank you for the response Steve. It is an issue of both quality and quantity of attenuation, with the iTunes "pre-amp" as low as it can go, the volume can still be to loud at the lowest possible setting in tunes for low volume listening. Times when the baby is asleep, or when I want to listen in the morning before work.
Paul

[TrungT]

I would vote for DIY Tortuga LDR3X.

[AJinFLA]

Good morning intrepid audiophiles!
Also I may want to add another source. I do not want to buy another dac. Small form factor is important to me as well as price, as a new father I am looking for a cheap solution.

http://www.parasound.com/ParasoundZ/zpre2.php

Around 3 bills on Audio Advisor. Black or Silver. With remote. Add an inexpensive tube buffer between amp if desired, roll away.

cheers,

AJ

[srb]

http://www.parasound.com/ParasoundZ/zpre2.php
Around 3 bills on Audio Advisor. Black or Silver. With remote.

I was going to recommend the Zpre2 but I though it might be out of the running at $400.  Didn't realize that Audio Advisor had refurbished ones for $300.  I would also recommend going with one of these over a $200 eBay Chinese pre with unknown quality and service.

Steve

[srb]

It is an issue of both quality and quantity of attenuation, with the iTunes "pre-amp" as low as it can go, the volume can still be to loud at the lowest possible setting in tunes for low volume listening. Times when the baby is asleep, or when I want to listen in the morning before work.

Paul, I can get mine to go a little lower than I would ever want it, but that might be the difference between my 86dB and your 89dB speakers as well as overall gain.

Steve

[pslate]

Thank you very much for your suggestions I picked up the Parasound Zpre2 refurbished for $300 
Paul

[AJinFLA]

I would also recommend going with one of these over a $200 eBay Chinese pre with unknown quality and service.
Steve

Yep, the other benefit being that if there is any immediate/future tube (cheap Chinese or other) drama, simply remove buffer and retain full, noise free preamplification. Of the remote variety.

cheers

AJ