[starkiller]

After cheap and cheerful preamps that do not have phono capability, have a phono-pre i am going to use.  Used or new or whatever.  Under $250..need 4 inputs though so that might be a tough plan to fulfill but thought i would ask 

[starkiller]

Wow, nobody..???

[srb]

With 4 inputs you will most likely have to wait until you can find one used in that price range and also possibly accept it having a 5th phono input whether you want it or not.

Steve

[starkiller]

Steve

yeah, was figuring used so no problem there..might be able to go with 3 instead of 4 inputs also.  Am looking at passive preamps also...

[srb]

Here's a

B&K Pro 5 for $150

NAD 1020 for $140

Steve

[jarcher]

My Marantz 4001 receiver for $199 here on AC Trader that has pre-amp out's.............

But seriously, a good AV processor from say B&K or even Anthem can be had for about that $. Depreciation on processors & receivers is terrible.   B&K Reference 10, 20, 30 - even 50 can be had for $250 or less (whereas you'd be lucky to get a Pro 10MC Sonata for that money).  Relatively svelte & attractive as well. Nice to have a remote.

But my personal preference would be an Anthem AVM 2 that with some patience can be had for $250.  I tried out an AVM 30, which is not that dissimilar, and it makes for a good pre-amp with plenty of inputs & nice to have remote.  Even the AVM 2 probably shares a lot of the analog "DNA" of the most recent Anthem processors.

If you needed only one or two inputs I think most would be saying some kind of passive preamp....or even a used chinese tube preamp.

P.s. Just sold my B&K Pro 5 for $99 here on AC!  If you want one of these, hold out for one of the later generation ones w/ the gold plated RCA's + IEC.  The early ones sometimes had problems w/ the previous cheaper RCAs.  The Audio Aslyum one is an older gen one.  These come up all the time on ebay & elsewhere, so don't rush.

[starkiller]

Problem is that i do not want a preamp with phono capability..i have a phono-pre incoming that i want to use.  Right now i am using a Yamaha C-70 that will be replaced by the new gear.  I also do not want a tuner as i already have a dedicated one in the system...

[jarcher]

Not sure I understand the "problem" - just because it has a function doesn't mean that you have to use it. And just because it's there also doesn't necessarily mean the performance will suffer as a result.

With the exception of the pro5, none of those other processors that I'm aware of have a phono section, though they will probably have a tuner (which you are free to ignore).

For under $250 with your requirements not sure you're going to do a lot better than your yamaha. Perhaps maybe the Anthem avm 2 if you can live with the tuner. I know an audiophile whose dropped 100+ thousand of dollars over the decades on high end gear & recently decided to drop out of the hobby with a budget system centered on this processor. I heard the system & it sounded good

[Letitroll98]

I have not heard this preamp, but reviews on it were pretty good:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110768209599?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

The B&K Pro 5 and NAD preamps are not bad deals at prices slightly under the asking for the two quoted units, but neither are they fabulous steals.  The Pro 5 is not close to the Pro 10 in sound quality, thus the much higher prices the Pro 10 garners even to this day.  The Pro 5 is a very nice preamp when used in passive mode (you can choose between passive and active circuits with a push button on the front panel), but somewhat flat and metallic in active mode.  If you like passive pre's it could be a great option.  If you can stretch to the Pro 10 I would recommend it.

The NAD is also a very pleasant sounding preamp, musical with a natural tone, but significantly veiled and soft.  If you prefer this relaxed presentation it's a winner.  Although I like my NAD I always seem to want more when it's in circuit, like I just can't hear everything I can hear in my other preamps.  Because if stuff is not less there's more less stuff, then you might want to have some more.  But then, your parents won't let you because there's only a little.  If you really like something, you'll want more of it.  We want more, We want more, Like, you really like it, ya want more.

[raysracing]

I used homemade "jumpers" on my unused inputs on an older integrated amp and it did wonders for the noise/hum.  I was getting some ghosting from other inputs and slight humming. Both are now gone. If you have unused inputs I would make some jumpers out of old RCA cables and it truly is as if they do not exist to the system.

[starkiller]

Thanks for all the thoughts and such, my list of needs/wants may not make sense to most people but they are what they are.  Could spend a little more i guess but my goals are staying the same, no built-in tuner and no phono input.  That's why i was hoping i would find one of those decent Rotel units for sale.

[jarcher]

I have not heard this preamp, but reviews on it were pretty good:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110768209599?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

The B&K Pro 5 and NAD preamps are not bad deals at prices slightly under the asking for the two quoted units, but neither are they fabulous steals.  The Pro 5 is not close to the Pro 10 in sound quality, thus the much higher prices the Pro 10 garners even to this day.  The Pro 5 is a very nice preamp when used in passive mode (you can choose between passive and active circuits with a push button on the front panel), but somewhat flat and metallic in active mode.  If you like passive pre's it could be a great option.  If you can stretch to the Pro 10 I would recommend it.

The NAD is also a very pleasant sounding preamp, musical with a natural tone, but significantly veiled and soft.  If you prefer this relaxed presentation it's a winner.  Although I like my NAD I always seem to want more when it's in circuit, like I just can't hear everything I can hear in my other preamps.  Because if stuff is not less there's more less stuff, then you might want to have some more.  But then, your parents won't let you because there's only a little.  If you really like something, you'll want more of it.  We want more, We want more, Like, you really like it, ya want more.

Good find on that Chinese pre amp - seems to fit op's requirements to a T and it's even new with a remote.

Having owned a Pro5 I can confirm that it sounds a lot better in passive mode. It was my first high end piece of gear and being a poor college student I couldn't afford the Pro10.

[jarcher]

You might be able to get an Acurus L10 for $250. No phono , no tuner, good Noble potentiometer.

[starkiller]

The L10 would be great, have had a few of their units in the past and its good stuff..the Chinese preamp, any reviews by chance?

[neekomax]

They only have 2 inputs, but there's probably a way to build and rig two Bottlehead Quickie battery-powered tube preamp kits together. $100 each, disposable batteries not included (but tubes are  ). Might be your best bet sound-wise for under $250.

Waiting for mine to be delivered!

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php/products/quickie-battery-tube-preamplifier

 

[WC]

They only have 2 inputs, but there's probably a way to build and rig two Bottlehead Quickie battery-powered tube preamp kits together. $100 each, disposable batteries not included (but tubes are  ). Might be your best bet sound-wise for under $250.

Waiting for mine to be delivered!

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php/products/quickie-battery-tube-preamplifier

You could add more inputs by changing the selector switch.

[starkiller]

The Bottleheads would be pretty cool but between having never soldered in my life and having peripheral neuopathy in my fingers and hands takes care of trying to build them

[neekomax]

The Bottleheads would be pretty cool but between having never soldered in my life and having peripheral neuopathy in my fingers and hands takes care of trying to build them

Hmm, I hear you on the soldering thing, I'm a noob there too. That's why I'm starting with a $100 kit. Sorry about the nerve thing, that must suck .

[Letitroll98]

The L10 would be great, have had a few of their units in the past and its good stuff..the Chinese preamp, any reviews by chance?

Gosh, I wish I could remember where I saw them at, both user reviews, one fairly long, the other a blurb.  The gist was surprisingly good for the money, not giant killers, a little solid state sounding, assume in the bad way.  Low noise, clear and direct sounding, cheap remote.  This is all from memory so take it with a grain of salt, but I'm pretty sure that's what the guys said.  I've been watching this pre on eBay for a year without pulling the trigger (I have a zillion preamps) so that's why I remember what the reviewer said. 

While looking for the review I found this:
http://diyhifishop.com/finished-pga2311-stero-remote-volume-controller-preamp-weiliang-p-70.html

[opnly bafld]

Gosh, I wish I could remember where I saw them at, both user reviews, one fairly long, the other a blurb.

 

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/pga2311_e.html

http://quadrevisionspot.blogspot.com/2013/04/pga2311-based-remote-volume-control.html