2. amps-preamps
  3. 1423173149

Help with Preamp selection

Hello Everyone, I am building a new system and I am having a hard time with selecting a preamp to be paired with my Pass Labs XA-30.5 Class A amp. I am no audio engineer and to be honest I really don't know what to make of all the specifications. I have read where the Pass amp like low input gain from a pre-amp but other than that I am unsure what else to look for. I definitely want a pre-amp with balanced inputs and outputs so I can experience everything the balanced PASS labs has to offer. I am leaning towards solid state vs tubes only because their seems to be more balanced offerings and less maintenance.

My budget is $1000-$2000 for a used or new unit. Here are some of the choices I have been mulling over:
1. Wyred 4 Sound STP SE
2. Lower end Ayre Unit (This is $3500 new but have seen as low as $2K on used market
3. Parasound JC-2 (out of my range even used)
4. Cary Audio SL-100 (New)
5. Audio Research (So many units to choose from would be interested if they are in price range)
6. Jolida Fusion

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Lastly - any recommendations on budget speaker cable and interconnects? I am looking for well made but at a reasonable price. Budget for 10' speaker cables $200-$250 and XLR connectors $100-$150.

Thanks in advance for your responses.
Neil
nmiller1202

Showing 16 responses by nmiller1202

nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Thanks for your response ZD542. I think I read where the Wyred 4 Sound preamp would mostly stay in passive mode for lower level listening and go active if pushed. Would passive preamp be a good match with the Pass Amp? Would I be missing out on any dynamics of an active preamp or can you bypass the passive on the W4S?
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Hi Soix - to answer your question I am building a 2nd system from scratch so no pre-amp before. The system I have been using for the last 6 years is a Yaqin 300B SET integrated amp with Shanling Tube CD-1000. Speakers are just Tannoy studio monitors I believe PB-8? So I do like my current system and will probably keep in my office but wanted to take the next step up the ladder and decided to do seperates instead of integrated.

I ultimately would like to end up with a PASS XP-10 or XP-20 but my thinking was to upgrade later after I have save more cash. So right now I would like to find something that could bridge the gap between now and later. Same with the cables. Start off with entry level and upgrade later.

I have been eying the X1 on here for sale but it would probably have some miles on it by now? What about 7-10 years old maybe?? Are these built to last a lifetime?
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Thanks Oilmanmojo - I have been checking Reno Hi-Fi website every few days to see if one came up for sale. I should probably just call them and get on a waiting list. I definately would like the XP-10. I don't think I could go wrong with that pairing.
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Thanks for your comments Dsper - It does seem the W4S STP-SE has a lot of good press out there. This may be the way to go interim until I can upgrade. Or maybe I will be happy and thus spend the money on other components.
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Hi Rlwainwright - thanks for your comments. To my non audiophile freinds $200 for a cable and they say I am crazy to spend that much. Any recomendations on entry level cables?
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Hello Macrojack - Nice looking unit. Never heard of this company before? Can you speak to it's performance first hand and if so what have you compared it to? It seems to have a world class DAC and headphone amp but my main use will be as a pre-amp with a CD source.
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Thanks Abrew19 - I agree with waiting on cables. My plan is to get entry level and then upgrade later one connector at a time. Any recommendations on good entry level connectors, used or new?
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Speaking of the Pass preamp I noticed they recommend leaving the preamp on at all times, They say it cost less than a cup of coffee per month? This kind of turned me off. Is this common with most preamps? I understand Tube equipment requires warm up time but the Pass stuff is solid state.
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Thanks for your input JMC - would this hold true for the pass amp as well?
"Many SS manufacturers recommend leaving their gear on 24/7. Many people feel that SS gear takes days to sound it's best."
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Cerrot - what color is your k5xe MP? Silver or black?
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Cerrot - very nice set-up you have. If you still want to sell the Ayre I would take it. Any scratches or marks on the faceplate or sides and tops. This would not be used in a rack on my end and would be displayed on top of credenza so appearance must be mint.
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Abrew19 - thanks for your input and suggestions on entry level cables. I did see where Music Direct has the 40% off on AQ king cobra so that looks like a good option.
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Hey Jon2020 yes it seems to be well praised across the board. At this point it's between used Ayre 5K and the Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE.
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
So I pulled the trigger on the Ayre K-5xe MP preowned. Thanks to all for the advice in this thread as it was very helpful.
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
JMC, I will definitely let you know how it goes - yes I bought Cerrot's - so glad he chimed in on this thread - really great guy to deal with!
nmiller1202 OP
18 posts
 
Thanks Jon - will do. You definitely reinforced my decision. I made an offer on another Ayre k-5 a couple weeks ago but missed out to another higher bidder. I stayed patient but kept researching and you know how it goes you start second guessing yourself. In the end I got the one I wanted at the price I needed. Very happy!
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