2. amps-preamps
  3. 1222475034

Integrated used as Preamp?

Can anyone comment on using an integrated amp solely for its preamp as opposed to buying a pure preamp? Reason I ask is because I have been eyeing a few Musical Fidelity preamps (such as the A3cr and A3.2) for a while but the integrated versions go for cheaper than the pure preamps. Why spend $150 more to NOT get the amp inside? I don't need the amp but why spend the extra money? Is there anything APPRECIABLE one should expect to lose from using the integrated instead of a pure preamp?
jnehma1

Showing 3 responses by jnehma1

jnehma1 OP
111 posts
 
Rar1 - what do you mean about not all A3s having a preamp out? Are you saying there are multiple versions of the A3? According to the MF website, the A3, A300, A3.2, and A308 integrateds all have preouts.
jnehma1 OP
111 posts
 
Thanks for the feedback thus far. To answer some of the questions...

It doesn't have to be a MF integrated/preamp... I have just been looking at one to mate with my MF A308CR power amp. What I need is a good 2-channel preamp, because my system currently serves double duty as a stereo setup + home theater. The MF amp I have has 2 sets of inputs with a switch on the front to control which one is active. That means I can connect two different preamps (a good stereo preamp and my existing Acurus prepro) so I can keep the home theater setup without sacrificing 2 channel audio quality.
jnehma1 OP
111 posts
 
Thanks for the info Rar1. That's interesting that your A3 didn't have preouts. On the CD Pre 24, I've had my eye on that as well, but they aren't easy to find and are a little outside the range I am looking to spend at the moment. If the right one came along, I might pull the trigger though, since I could make up some coin by selling my current CD player.
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