Looking for a new pre-amp!!

I should disclose that I do know the seller but can say that he takes excellent care of his gear. I haven't heard this preamp so I cannot comment on it but I will say that it was because of this lengthy thread on another forum that Vincent showed up on my radar. It's a pretty good read if you have the time.

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/livestrongs-music-room-a-journey.559572/

The Emotiva XSP-1 is an excellent pre amp. Another option is Brown Audio Labs from Texas. Their Pre amp also has an excellent phono stage. It is Tube / solid state hybrid. 

Another vintage hi-end option is Onkyo integra P 388.

wayne3720

Many Belles amps are just around 1v input sensitivity for full output.

Make sure you pick either a passive preamp or active with little or unity gain.

The last thing you want is to have loud listening level around 8 to 9 o’clock on the the volume knob.

And if your source/s have higher than 2v this will exacerbate the problem even more.

Cheers George

For just under $1000, you can build the SP14 kit from VTA and get something to set up against those much, much more expensive preamps you see on Audiogon.

http://www.tubes4hifi.com/SP14.htm

...or you could build the same sort of thing from scratch using boards from Glass-ware Audio. Would cost you about $500 in parts.

http://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/listheam.html

Just google "aikido preamp" and do some reading.