2. amps-preamps
  3. 125715-1644

Are there used/mint balanced pre-amp with a few unblanced inputs under $2000??

Need recommendations for a used balanced pre-amp with approximately 3 balanced input  One for a CD player and another  for hooking up a fully balanced amp.  And, possibly, one additional balanced input  I don't need a processor HT loop, nor DAC input and output. I do need a remote, and a very good headphone feature would be great  Phone box or stage could be added. 

Unfortunately, many balanced or mixed balanced and unbalanced pre-amps or line stages offer multiple balanced inputs, and also  several RCA inputs and outputs

They usually lack remote, phone stage and headphone features.  The back of some look like a recording console and the front, a cuckoo clock.    Not for me!!.

I prefer simple and usable  features,  but outstanding sound quality. I have a BAT VK200 amp

I am NOT hopeful such a component is available. However, I have looked at the Copland CT305, Cary SLP202, and a few of the BAT pre-amps in a cursory search     Thank you  

   

sunnyjim

Showing 5 responses by djohnson54

djohnson54
396 posts
 
Jim,  BAT would seem to fill the bill perfectly so not sure if you're leaning away from them.  If not, there's a VK-31 with phono and remote on AG right now for $2000 (no relation to the seller).  If interested, better hurry as someone's (maybe you?) is already asking questions. Dick
djohnson54
396 posts
 
@sunnyjim You're welcome.  It did look like a good deal having both the phono and remote options installed and, like mesch said, they go fast.  I use a BAT VK-3i with my McCormack DNA-0.5 Deluxe and it sounds wonderful.  My only problem is the sensitivity of the McCormack which was really probably designed for Steve's passive line stages.  I don't get to use much of my volume control. :)  Always wanted to try the VK-200 though, I hear it's a fabulous amp.  Best of luck.  Dick
djohnson54
396 posts
 
@sunnyjim If you haven't made a choice yet, a VK-31SE just popped up for $2,100.  Dick
djohnson54
396 posts
 
@sunnyjim Sorry, I forgot about the requirement for phono.  The last one went so fast I wanted to alert you before this one went too.  The yellowish cast could be the result of the lighting - the photography skills of many sellers are not the best (certainly not up to Albert Porter's standards!) - but this preamp would be several years old at this point.  A quick internet search didn't reveal the gain for the VK-31SE, which should be a match for your VK-200 and could be used for comparison, so I can't comment on the ET3.  Dick
djohnson54
396 posts
 
@sunnyjim Not sure about the pecking order but (and you may know this already) the VK-20/40 series are BAT's solid state preamps.  That said, the VK-20 is probably in the same performance range as the VK-3i/VK-30 although I've never heard the VK-20.  The only thing I could find on the BAT phono cards comes from a review of the VK-3iX so take this with a grain of salt - "Options for the VK-3iX include a solid-state phono preamplifier that is factory set for moving magnet (MM) or moving coil (MC) phono cartridges."

Dick
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