Help me find a preamp

transam · « **on:** 2 Jan 2003, 01:50 am »

I'm selling my B&k ref30 and looking for a 2ch preamp.
I'm looking at $1500.00 range.The gear i have are martin
logan ascents,b&k ref 2ch amp,denon dcd1650ar that i might
get modded.Thanks for your help.

Marbles · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 01:57 am »

Quote from: transam

I'm selling my B&k ref30 and looking for a 2ch preamp.
I'm looking at $1500.00 range.The gear i have are martin
logan ascents,b&k ref 2ch amp,denon dcd1650ar that i might
get modded.Thanks for your help.

If you want a pure, accurate sound then the Bent transformer based passive pre is a great one. http://www.bentaudio.com/

If you want a more musical and less acurate one than there are a lot of tube based ones.

Also Curt's of IRD look very, very promising, although none but Curt and Michael Barnes of nOrh have heard them AFAIK. http://www.ird-thailand.com/

PJ · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 05:28 am »

If you are interested in DIY, you may want to look at Aspen's GK-1.

I haven't heard it, but just offering another opinion.

They have a forum here.

EProvenzano · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 06:34 am »

I can't wait to hear a little more about Curt's preamps. I've almost sold off my SFL-1, and so far the IRD Purist LLC-P looks very promising. These are well under your $1500 budget tho, so maybe you could find better. Good luck, it sure is challenging trying to find the best value for the money

BR,
EP

Xi-Trum · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 01:25 pm »

Agree with Marbles. Go with Bent for acurate/transparent sound. Go with tube preamps if you happen to like euphonic/colored sound. Can't comment on IRD passive preamps since I haven't heard any of them.

G-7 · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 04:01 pm »

I would suggest to get BVaudio P1 preamplifier.

transam · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 07:52 pm »

Thanks for your help guys.The bent audio and bv audio look sweet.
I'm using the denon 1650 var. output right into the amp.If only i
could adj. the volume from my seat

.It looks like i have to spend
$1600.00 for a dam volume knob.I just hooked up some new rca cables
from one of our sponsors.They looked cool but there was a difference
in the length about 3/8".They sounded ok a little bright.I have to send them back.I hate to say it but my moster m1000i smoked them.Just my
opinion.

Brad · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 08:08 pm »

If the RCAs are new, give them a week or two to break in before you make any decisions......

John Chapman from Bent indicated remote volume adjustment should be available fairly soon

Tyson · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 08:12 pm »

I think the Audible Illusions Modulus 3A is a very good tubed preamp, very solidly engineered (completely dual mono, seperate power supply, short signal path, dual stepped attenuators), and has very good sound quality (I personally prefered it to some other's mentioned here). I have one, but will likely sell it (cheap) once I have my new preamp in my grubby little hands (I'm going from a $2400 pre to a approx. $7k pre - yes, I am insane

).

eico1 · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 08:13 pm »

there are no sponsors here t-a. You are now free to speak your mind:)

steve

Marbles · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Jan 2003, 08:27 pm »

John Chapman of Bent just returned from vacation.

He wants a forum here and we are very pleased to give him one. This should happen soon.

You will be able to ask him any questions you want on the subject.

Depending on the vender, some use a cable cooker to break in their TOTL cables prior to shipping and some do not. If the case is they do not, then it will take some time to break them in. I would take advantage of the trial period.

There is no reason to keep cables that you are not happy with or are not synergistic with your equipment. Most cables do need some time to settle in though.