2. amps-preamps
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A question I'm sure you've never heard before....

I am spanking new to this site and board. I suppose if this is anything like any number of the various subject boards I've been on, this will be a topic that the regulars will have all heard and have hashed and rehashed, but here goes.

I am doing things a bit differently than some, I would guess. I've started with my front end and have resurrected my old Linn LP12 Valhalla with Ittok LVII (and yes, I do plan to upgrade in the future but not right away). I got an exceptional deal on a Benz H2 "Woody" so I bought it. I have a McCormack DNA-225 SS amp. Now I want to add either a preamp and phono stage or a combined unit such as a CJ PV10A, or the like. Would like to spend maybe $1600 tops (used- I prefer to let others take the depreciation on most components and I have heard that Audiogon is a reliable place to buy). Then, I will select speakers and, finally, speaker cables to match the speakers and interconnects to complement the other components with the largest budget earmarked to the preamp/amp connection.

I like medium to heavy rock (but not metal), jazz (mostly sax and piano), blues, and, like most everyone, female vocalists. My room is about 18X26 feet (bigger than what I'd prefer for a stereo room). Stereotypical plaster walls, carpeting, drapes, wood, metal, stuffed furnishings.

I wanted the McCormack for various reasons and now I want to match to it a TUBE preamp and phono stage, or a combo unit. Looked at some EAR products, which I really liked, but their price did not like me. I really would like to stay in the $1600 used neighborhood if possible.

If anyone out there has experience in this area, please lay your recommendations on me. After I make this part of my decision, I will be back to pick your brains more with regard to speakers! I know you all just dying for that time to come. HA... At present I am contemplating PSB, Proac, Sililoquy, and Martin Logan – and, if I can get a great deal, maybe Dunlavy. I plan to spend about $3K on the pair of whatever I get.

Anyone wanna chime in on the preamp/phono part for now? I’d be obliged to all with constructive opinions – those that want to poke fun of my meager outlay can remain quiet and, instead, sell me their cast offs on the cheap! ;-)
motdathird
wlutke
725 posts
 
I'll second the ARC SP-9 but only the MKIII version. I have the MKII and the MKIII. The MKIII can be had for about $1000, the MKII (not bad) for $600-$800. Be forewarned that it's a warm (colored) sounding pre, ideal for taming a bright system. NOS tubes are a must. Siemens for a more detailed sound. Telefunken for a warmer presentation. Amperex is somewhere inbetween. It's a hybrid with a 6922 for line and one for phono. Good enough for McCormack gear.
mezmo
516 posts
 
Almost surprised that you haven't heard more of up an upswelling from the Rogue fanatics (which have been vocal as of late, myself happily among them, bias noted). The 99 Magnum (with phono stage) goes for about $2.9k retail, and might be had used, with a little patience, within striking distance of your price range. Also, you could always get a non-Magnum version ($2.4k with phono, retail) and upgrade it at Rogue later at your discretion (I like having an upgrade option in pocket, as it gives you a shot at a fairly dramatic makeover for a relatively minimal price). I recently picked up a used 99 Magnum (linestage only) and am really thrilled with it. Obviously, I can't attest to the phono stage they put in there, but it's meant to be swell. If you're making a list to explore more in depth, don't leave this one out (or the 66, which I can't speak to personally). As mentioned above, Mark O'Brian, Rogue's owner/designer and the fellow likely to pick up the phone if you call, is as good as they come when it comes to interest, commitment, and helpfulness regarding products that he is obviously proud of and passionate about. Knowing he's behind Rogue, and having had the pleasure of speaking with him, has made me feel even better about owning a great preamp. (Yuck, this sounds a bit like a paid testimonial, but what the hell...). CJ, AA and AR are also great, and may likely be had more easily and for less used, if nothing else, beacuse they've had the chance to make a whole lot more of them. (I almost bought a CJ10A a couple of years back, but ended up with a VTL TL 2.5 instead because it had a remote and a HT bypass loop, neither of which the CJ does, despite the fact that the CJ may sound a touch better). I see no reason to bemoan your price range, it will easily get you into the dance, and picking the partner that suits you from there is part of the fun.
drwoofy
4 posts
 
i think with my 35 yrs of high end audio expenses and experiences you're putting the cart before the horse..get the speakers you like first...you won't hear the preamp difference if you're not into a good set of speakers...if you like rock and roll forget the martin logans i had monolith 3's i prefer my old but excellent snell alll'sover them more impact power for classical the martin logans are great and also if you like high db levels i'd say to stay with non electrostatic's my preamp is a audio research sp 10 mk ll but that cost alot more than your budget...
motdathird OP
77 posts
 
Thanks for everyone's help so far. I am settling toward an EAR 834P Signature phono stage and possibly the EAR 834L preamp or possibly another line preamp.

Doc, I appreciate your years of experience and understand from where you are coming - and I thank you for the speaker advise. My dilemna is this. The speakers will be one of the only pieces that I will likely buy new. And if I do buy used it will probably be locally to avoid hundreds of shipping pound costs (not to mention damage). As such, they will also likely be the only part of the system for which I will have the luxury of auditioning before purchase. I figure if I get a good match between the front-end, amp, and pre/phono, I will then be able to "sample" a variety of speaker sets before settling on one. Also, it seems that the number of speaker choices available to me within my price range are much larger than the number of pre/phono choices.

Plus, let me ask this. How can I determine if any speakers that I will want will be suitable (recall that I have already an amp and front end but nothing in between)? I suppose I could try to find a place that has MY existing amp AND existing turnable setup and try various speakers with different combinations of pre/phono equipment.

I imagine this brings up the question of whether it is better to find a good balance with amp/pre/phono first, and then select speakers, or to buy speakers one likes on another system's "guts" and then either match that same system or "audition" a variety of electronics component to suit the speakers. I have heard arguments both way.

One thing I have come to realize VERY quickly about this hobby: THERE IS VERY LITTLE TURE CONSENSUS. One persons dream is another's nightmare. One persons perfect approach is anothers throny path. One persons ideal amp is another's end table.... I saw one thread where someone asked people's opinionof the top 10 speakers....about 30 posts yielded 30 different answers.

Don't get me wrong, though. I sincerely appreciate your opinion - both when it does and does not square with my own!
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
Agree with Drw that speakers should come first & then build the rig around them. This has always been my preferred approach if at all possible. But you are admittedly approaching this differently, which is OK of course.
Ome magical combo that I stumbled upon is a Golden Tube preamp driving a McCormack amp; the staging was incredible & highs were real sweet. Try to find a Golden Tube SEP-2 or SEP-3 preamp with an internal phono stage. Even the SEP-1 would do (but has no remote) I just saw one advertised here for real cheap. The SEP-3 shouldn't run over $750 used, with phono.
The probability of finding a shop having the same lineup that you have at home & with the speakers that you want to audition is low. You'll probably have to bring speakers home (the best way to audition) but then ethically you should buy from that dealer if you like his speakers. You might also consider bringing along some of your own equipment & cables to a dealer stocking the speakers that you want to try out; that will match up everything except your listening room itself (there's still a big sonic difference between the dealers' place & your own though). Find a dealer that has used speakers available. You can get more of your investment back out of them when it comes time to upgrade.
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