Cary SLP 98 vs Benchmark LA4
Looking to replace my preamp. I used a Parasound PLD 2000 for 20 years or more and have no complaints. It lost the right channel and the culprit seems to be the balance pot. I have searched high and low and cannot find one. Parasound dealers have been no help. Most won't even answer. I have tried half a dozen different preamps from the used market and not been delighted with any of them. Nakamichi, other Parasound units, Forte, an Audio Valve (which got damaged in shipping and ended up going back). I really wanted to hear that last one.
Anyway, I drive two Parasound HCA 2200 II amps into Teledyne AR9 speakers, biamped. I have a Cary PH 301 phono pre. I listen to vinyl much more than I do CD's probably 80% of the time. I do not stream any music. I know it's all "old school" but I am mostly very pleased with what I hear. Does anyone have any thoughts on these two preamps? I think the Cary is made to drive more than one amplifier. No idea on the Benchmark or whether one of these suits my needs more than the other. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks,
Bill
jdal Thanks. It is interesting. I may pick one up to have my son build it. He wants to learn how to do this stuff anyway. Might be kind of fun. I'll probably still be searching for something with a remote but if this thing can sound better then an SLP 98, who knows. I do like the types like Cary (and this) with tubes out in the open. Makes rolling much easier and I do have a penchant for tube rolling. Intriguing suggestion and certainly very reasonably priced. |
Retired and tony The LA4 has great test numbers and specs. As we all know, there is more to it than good specs or tests. Plenty of hot discussions about that here. The Benchmark is not exactly what I was looking for but listening to the conversation with John Siau, made me at least consider it. I really want to try a tube preamp that has a remote, is designed to push two amplifiers and offers both XLR and RCA connections. Narrows it down pretty well. Thanks again for your input.
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I have the Benchmark HPA4 (same as the LA4) and love it. However, I want to also get a tube preamp, and I have narrowed it down to the Raven Revelation. There seems to be a lot of good pedigree in this unit. Raven Preamplifier — Spatial Audio Lab
I need this feature set too. |
