What's the best pre I can get for $1,000 or so. . .

Hantra · « **on:** 23 Jun 2003, 03:09 am »

All:

I may have to get a new pre-amp. I don't think mine plays well with my new amps. Those damned French are out to get us. . .

Anyhow, what should I try? This Kora is the best pre I have ever used. I like it much better than the CAT SL-1, and the Aloia.

Any ideas? I am not speding a bunch, and I will buy used if necessary. . .

The Piegas like tubes. .

B

-- Ohh yeah. . I'd LOVE a remote. . .

Tyson · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 03:16 am »

AVA Transcendance 7 or Radii tube pre. The T7 is more transparent & has better bass, the Radii is more tube-y sounding.

doug s. · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 03:18 am »

one of these:
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?preatube&1061049421
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?preatube&1060019386

the 1st one has a remote & has been thoroughly updated. the second one is the upgrade model of the 1st, but older, no remote, & no mods... it's a two-box affair, power supply in the second box...

hard to find *any* pre at *any* price significantly better than these, imo. mebbe *different*, but not necessarily better. taste will come into play at this level of performance. there is no *best* in audio, imo.. but i *am* biased - i own one like the second one, only fully upgraded like the 1st...

doug s.

BikeWNC · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 03:22 am »

Check out Dodd Audio. I haven't heard one yet, but I hope to in the near future. There is some info on the GR Research site. I've talked to Gary Dodd about building a tube amp for me. I know he makes an integrated amp. Danny Ritchie may also have some info on Dodd Audio.

Andy

Juan R · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 03:47 am »

What kind of problem you have with the Kora?

Hantra · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 04:22 am »

Quote

What kind of problem you have with the Kora?

Hmm. . . Not sure yet. I just know that my amps don't really like it. It may be DC offset, or something else. I have a friend who is going to help me dianose it in more detail, and I'll try another pre just to make sure b/c I really like the Kora, and want to make sure it HAS to go. .

B

BWentler · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 04:35 am »

What about Odyssey Audio Tempest pre-amp? I have one on order that should be here middle of July and with a remote and two pairs of output jacks was about $1,100. The basic until is $950 without shipping!

And its new with a 20 warranty!

vpolineni · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 05:23 am »

check out the IRD LLC-Purist. it sells for 665 dollars. here's its link:
http://www.ird-thailand.com/products/purist/purist.htm
it received a great review from tnt-audio:
http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/ird_llc_p_e.html

they also have a version with a remote coming out soon.

doug s. · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 11:19 am »

i had a dc offset problem w/one of my recently-purchased old electrocompaniet aw75 dmb amps - it would shut down on loud passages, or transients like a loud pop on a winyl album. the fix was to install caps & resistors internally across the inputs. a quick look-see on my original, purchased-new aw75 indicates that's how it came from the factory, so ec musta realized the problem & made the fix at the factory.

so, don't blame the pre, it may be the amps' fault!

on the other hand, from what some other folk have told me, if ya like the kora (which i understand *is* excellent), ya won't be disappointed w/a melos as substitute...

doug s.

HChi · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 11:49 am »

I was shopping for a preamp a few monthes ago and came very close of buying a Kora Equinox, for it may come very close sonically to CJ LS16MKII with right tubes according to an user I exchanged extensive emails with. To make a long story short, I ended up getting a IRD LLC Purist. At $665, I doubt that I can make any better choice if I am given the chance to do it all over again. Highly recommend to give it an 30-day in-home trial!!

-Howard

Juan R · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 12:45 pm »

Are you using the balanced, high or low output? Acording to J. Bongiorno, Kora eq. may use differnce setting for the balanced output, and cause problems with the ampzillas. also check your amp input inpedance, Ithink balanced and high are 600kohms and low is 1.2. I am using the low because of the sound(all tube) vs. the high who is only 1 tube(hybrid).

Hantra · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 01:32 pm »

Hey man. . .

Help me out here. . . I am not sure what I am using. I didn't know you could vary the settings for output. Also, mine doesn't have balanced connection.

B

8thnerve · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 01:34 pm »

Quote from: Hantra

All:

Any ideas? I am not speding a bunch, and I will buy used if necessary. . .

The Piegas like tubes. .
.

If you can find a used BAT VK-3i with remote at that price I would jump on it. It was the most enjoyable pre I've ever had in my home system, and was the ONLY pre that made me love preamps! Transparent and perfect. AND fantastic controls to boot!!

TheeeChosenOne · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 03:29 pm »

Are there any pre/pro out there (like the Anthem AVM20) that could do as good a job as the exceptional sounding recommendations listed in this thread?.......

Eduardo AAVM · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 06:27 pm »

Honestly there are many good pre's but for the price the Odyssey Tempest is a really good alternative, try it if you can.

Oxia · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 08:59 pm »

The Halo series from Parasound is getting a lot of favourable buzz, and the P3 preamp looks like a good deal. For only $800 you get remote control operation, 6 line inputs, XLR inputs and outputs (thought it's not a true balanced design), and nice industrial design to boot. Not too shabby for the money...

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_9_4/parasound-halo-p3-preamplifier-10-2002.html

Juan R · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Jun 2003, 10:22 pm »

I think you have the Kora equinoxe not the eclipse. your pre have only one output.

rkapadia@ROOP · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Jun 2003, 07:01 am »

I think the used ZTPRE from Decware is ideal - it's a wonderful preamp, escpecially for <$1000 USD used.

Regards

Rup

Jay S · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Jun 2003, 09:16 am »

The Eastern Electric MiniMax tube pre didn't give up anything at all to the mega-$$$ Symphonic Line tube pre during the last HAM meeting. It was also as transparent as a DACT-based passive pre! No remote, but it is under $1k.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Jun 2003, 03:50 pm »

Tsunami is correct.

I was blown away with Gary's amps and pre-amps from the start, and his stuff has just gotten better and better.

I have since become good friends with Gary and have tried to make others more aware of what he can do, and how good it can get for so little.

I posted some in info and pics in my forum for Gary.

Have a look: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=3267