[JeffB]

I really enjoyed reading the Preamp short list thread.  I am also searching for a preamp.  I would like to keep the cost under $1000, but it is not a super hard line if something is close.  I am also looking for a remote (volume control and mute).  The remote is a must have for me.  A phono section is not hugely important to me, but I might go as high as $1300 if I can also get phono. I would rather not consider integrated amps in this thread.

[J North]

You gotta consider the now discontinued PSAudio PCA-2 preamp.

Full remote volume/input/mute/phase/dim switching.
Fully balanced
Lots of inputs/outputs.

Orginal retail was $2000
New ones are now $1200
Used/Demos go for $800 to $1100

Sounds just fine to me with good overall reviews.

A steal at this price.

[djbnh]

Odyssey Tempest. Excellent phono stage (MM & MC). Available with remote. Klaus Bunge, Odyssey's owner, offers advice and service second to none. Cost = $1,075 + extra for remote (sorry, can't put my finger on the cost of the remote option). I recommend calling Klaus at: (317) 299-5578.

Links to Odyssey Tempest are:

1) Tempest: http://www.odysseyaudio.com/tempest.html

2) Products (not including speakers), including Tempest preamp specs (on far right of page): http://www.odysseyaudio.com/products.html.

Best of luck with your decision making!  

[audioslave]

I have second djbnh's recommendation of the Odyssey Preamp. It is a really great value and have enjoyed it in my system since February. The remote option is $150. Ask Klaus about his B-Stock-you may get a discount and come in right at $1000. I am very pleased with mine.

[Jay S]

Jeff,

You may want to mention what source and amp you have and what type of sound you want to achieve and what deficiencies your system has now.  

I haven't heard either of the two pres suggested above but in general stuff from Odyssey is excellent value for money and you can be sure of great synergy if you build a system around their products, since synergy is Klaus' personal "obsession" (and I mean that in the best possible way).

Just to put another option out there, the Musical Fidelity A3CR pre (solid state, remote, phono stage, choke regulated power supply, dual mono) was getting tons of press on Stereophile a few years back and may have been rated Class A.  It was $1,500 new.  You should be able to find a few of these for sale used for well under $1k.  And, resale should be good if you decide it doesn't work out.

[WEEZ]

Good suggestions so far.

You might consider the AVA T5R; if you option it up with the tape buffers, phono amp, and remote it would run about $1300 shipped. If you want solid state, the Omegastar version would be around $1100 fully optioned.

You can read about the AVA products here at Audio Circle.

Good Luck..

WEEZ

[Jay S]

Check these out:  

BAT VK3i tube pre for $1,395
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1101921503

Audible Illusions M3 tube pre for $1,200
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1102271469

MF CD Pre 24 for $1,050
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatran&1102297951

[birdwizard]

Damn good 2 channel preamp for cheap, it will suprise you:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?homeproc&1101007382

[Mad DOg]

Damn good 2 channel preamp for cheap, it will suprise you:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?homeproc&1101007382

i experimented w/ one for a little while...not bad...but if you need service for it, you're kinda SOL as Kinergetics is no longer in biz...in fact, before i decided whether to buy it,  i checked w/ one of the former Chiro techs who lives in the So Cal area, and he advised me to pass on it...

[Jay S]

If you can use a passive pre in your system, then there is a Placette w/ remote for sale on A'gon for under $700.  You'll be hard pressed to find a more transparent preamp.  Dynamics and bass should be fine if you use short interconnects and your cd and amp have low output / high input impedance, respectively.

[doug s.]

there is only one pre i'd consider at this price point - the melos sha-gold-r.  (maestro is the last iteration of this pre.)   awesome preamp, even bone-stock, & m.a.r. offers worthwhile upgrades.  these can be found for ~$1k, even w/upgrades.

a coupla years ago, when i was looking for pre's, a dealer, who coulda sold me a brand-new cary, rogue or audible illusions pre, told me the sha-gold-r was a better preamp; that i should definitely get one, if i were even considering it.  he used to carry melos before they went under.  i was impressed that the dealer that would give me adwice that cost him a potential sale.  i am also impressed by the melos pre's...

doug s.

[lonewolfny42]

there is only one pre i'd consider at this price point - the melos sha-gold-r.  (maestro is the last iteration of this pre.)   awesome preamp, even bone-stock, & m.a.r. offers worthwhile upgrades.  these can be found for ~$1k, even w/upgrades.

a coupla years ago, when i was looking for pre's, a dealer, who coulda sold me a brand-new cary, rogue or audible illusions pre, told me the sha-gold-r was a better preamp; that i should definitely get one, if i were even considering it.  he used to carry melos bef ...

There is a Melos preamp on Ebay..."buy it now" auction.

Ad states...below fair market value.[/list:u]

[doug s.]

There is a Melos preamp on Ebay..."buy it now" auction.

Ad states...below fair market value.[/list:u]

this is a nice pre, at a decent price.  but, not below market, imo...  it's been out there now, for a week, w/o a buyer!     and, no remote control.  but, perhaps it could be conwerted to remote control - it may be worth checking w/will &/or jerry at m.a.r.  of course, by the time ya were done conwerting/modding, ya may as well yust get an sha-gold...

doug s.

[lonewolfny42]

Thank you doug.

For those wondering..."m.a.r." ...here's the

link...Melos Audio Restoration. [/list:u]

[nathan_klassen]

I really enjoyed reading the Preamp short list thread.  I am also searching for a preamp.  I would like to keep the cost under $1000, but it is not a super hard line if something is close.  I am also looking for a remote (volume control and mute).  The remote is a must have for me.  A phono section is not hugely important to me, but I might go as high as $1300 if I can also get phono. I would rather not consider integrated amps in this thread.

FT Audio's LW1S2! (www.ftaudio.com)  Its a fantastic passive pre-amp that is very detailed, no loss in dynamics, great soundstage and it has been a fantastic addition to my system.

The LW1S2 is $695 with the Remote.

The IR interface between the Remote and the Pre-Amp has a battery pack built in so that it can charge and when you do critical listening you can unplug it so that the Passive won't be tainted by outside power.

I'm very happy with mine.  The reviews you'll find on the net will just be of the LW1 probably.  Sonically no real difference between the first and second generation, just that the second generation has the remote input standard.  Highly recommended

Soundstage Review
Asylum Reviews can be found here under FT Audio.

Nathan Klassen

[djbnh]

I forgot to mention that Odyssey also offers a passive preamp named the Etesian, and I believe it too has the remote control option. Again, call Klaus Bunge at the number previously provided.

[ASi_TEK]

The Forte F44 would be a great choice for $450 used. Easy to mod and will then outperform $2K+ units.

[JeffB]

Thanks for all your responses so far.

Jay S,

I am currently putting together a brand new system. I want a quality 2-channel system, however I desire to connect it to my television cable box in order to get the Metal channel.  Thus, it will also be the audio system for my television.  I largely want the remote control because of the television hookup.  If I had a room just for audio I probably wouldn't care.  Metal is pretty much all I listen to and I would like to be able to play it loudly(100-105db).  Not all the time, but sometimes you just have to turn it up.

I have mainly been looking at Tube amplification, Decware in particular.  I was kind of hoping to avoid a preamp altogether.  However, I am running into a couple issues with this approach.  It is difficult to find an affordable Tube amp with remote.  It is difficult to find a high efficiency speaker that is shielded for use next to a TV.

So I began to think that I would get a preamp with Remote and get that decision out of the way.

Most solid state equipment that I have heard has a certain grain to it, which is leading me towards tubes.  I also have not heard a solid state setup with really good dynamics, which is leading me towards high efficiency speakers.

Metal has a lot of double bass kick drum that I would like to come through strong and dynamic.  I would like a warm midrange for the power ballads.  I don't like bright highs.

I obviously have not heard a lot of equipment though.  My total budget for preamp, amp, speakers is about $4k.

[birdwizard]

Damn good 2 channel preamp for cheap, it will suprise you:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?homeproc&1101007382

i experimented w/ one for a little while...not bad...but if you need service for it, you're kinda SOL as Kinergetics is no longer in biz...in fact, before i decided whether to buy it,  i checked w/ one of the former Chiro techs who lives in the So Cal area, and he advised me to pass on it...

 I assume you're talking about Fred. I know he was getting tired of

servicing Kinergetics stuff 3 years ago. No wonder he told you to pass on

it.  Still for $250 used (sometimes), it's unbeatable.