Go with a Schiit Freya+
5-Year Warranty and Easy Return Policy.
Low budget vintage preamp or new
I’m new to this hi-fi world and wow wow wow it is so exciting. Been nerding out big time in these forums and am happy to be a part of this now.
I got Heresy IV’s, a McIntosh MC352, a Project S Box and a $50 amazon dilvpoetry preamp. I spent nearly all of the money I have right now besides about $1,300 I saved for a preamp.
I definitely want a tube preamp, and am looking most closely at the Audio Research LS7 and the Schitt Freya +. Honestly even with the $50 preamp I’m still totally floored every time I turn the system on and do not think I have had a single conversation with anyone in the past couple weeks that did not at some point turn to how dope the hi-fi world is.
What are your thoughts on the lower end Audio Research amps? I’m a bit nervous they’ll hum, that I’ll need to spend a lot of time and money repairing them, and that they probably won’t work so well when I use my system to play movies, which I will certainly do at times.
What do you think? Are there other preamps I should be looking at? Thanks so much for your time
I got Heresy IV’s, a McIntosh MC352, a Project S Box and a $50 amazon dilvpoetry preamp. I spent nearly all of the money I have right now besides about $1,300 I saved for a preamp.
I definitely want a tube preamp, and am looking most closely at the Audio Research LS7 and the Schitt Freya +. Honestly even with the $50 preamp I’m still totally floored every time I turn the system on and do not think I have had a single conversation with anyone in the past couple weeks that did not at some point turn to how dope the hi-fi world is.
What are your thoughts on the lower end Audio Research amps? I’m a bit nervous they’ll hum, that I’ll need to spend a lot of time and money repairing them, and that they probably won’t work so well when I use my system to play movies, which I will certainly do at times.
What do you think? Are there other preamps I should be looking at? Thanks so much for your time
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- 23 posts total
Leaning towards the freya+ for sure. And then down the line once I save up some more money I’ll invest in one of the higher tier audio research preamps or something of the sorts. That way if that needs service or repair or whatever I’ll always have the Freya as the backup, reliable and still great preamp to hold me up |
Hi, I have a 200W Perreaux Integrated Amp driving some Shahinian Compass speakers, approx. 6 months ago I was considering a tube pre-amp and in particular whether to go for a 2nd hand Audio Research LS7 or a new Schiit Freya+. In the end I purchased the LS7 and rolled in some NOS tubes... I wasn't able to do a comparison but couldn't be happier with my decision :-) |
For a tube pre-amp, the Xiangsheng 728A is a good introduction, about $300 and presumably not difficult to resell . My experience is at https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/buyers-report-xiangsheng-728a-tube-pre-amplifier.963... |
How about a left field option with something a little more versatile. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisac329-arcam-sr250-receivers I run this Arcam SR 250 (msrp $3600) as a pre with a Parasound JC5 and it works great for a split system for movies and music. You get HDMI switching and digital/analog inputs as well as DIRAC room correction. Paired with a solid amp its a very musical combo. |
- 23 posts total