2. amps-preamps
  3. 193487-172146

Pre-amp for Parasound A21+ & B&W 803 D3

Good morning. I am looking to upgrade from my system to use my NAD C658 just as a DAC/streamer rather than an all-in-one preamp. Currently it feeds a Parasound A21+ amp powering B&W 803 D3 floor standers. Adding in the dedicated preamp would necessitate adding in a phono stage but I consider that largely outside the scope of this request. I have reached the decision paralysis phase of searching so wanted to get some suggestions. Unfortunately there are no good audio stores within a 2 hour drive of where I live, so largely will have to choose based on features/reputation/recommendations. Help appreciated!

 

Considering/considered (but am ABSOLUTELY open to other suggestions outside these):

  • NAD M66 (replace the C658 altogether)
  • Parasound JC2 BP
  • McIntosh C8 (tube) or C49 (SS)
  • Rogue Audio RP-7
  • Benchmark LA4

 

Current equipment:

  • Pro-ject Carbon EVO turntable with Sumiko Wellfleet stylus
  • NAD C658 DAC/streamer/preamp
  • Parasound A21+ amp
  • B&W 803 D3 speakers

Budget: up to ~$5k but there is flexibility in this for the right piece

Location: USA (Alabama)

Room: 14.5 ft wide x 13.3 ft deep x 9 ft tall, treated with GIK Acoustics panels and curtains

andrewmland
yyzsantabarbara
4,997 posts
 

@andrewmland I got the $799 Schitt Kara preamp yesterday. The hope was that the Kara replaces the Holo Audio Serene preamp that I sold a few weeks ago. The Serene is a warmer LA4. My goal is to lower the overall cost of my system without sacrificing sonics

The Kara has about 12 hours on it now and it is almost as clean sounding as the LA4 and Serene. I doubt it will match it with more hours. However, when it comes to bass, I have NEVER heard anything as strong. This thing is shocking.

The designer Jason Stoddard was posting on Head-fi how people at the Schitt offices were shocked at what they were hearing and people started to come over to his office to find out what was making the noise. He was using the Magnepan LRS+ and the Schitt Wotan, and likely the Kara.

In my office I have the Schitt Wotan, Kara, and the Magnepan Mini with the KEF KC62 sub. The sub gets the signal from the Kara RCA and the Wotan gest XLR from the Kara. I have the sub volume rather low.

I was in another room while the system was playing Moving Pictures by RUSH, and I was shocked at the bass I was hearing. This combo is definitely the strongest, maybe fastest gear I have heard. I have had a few preamps in the house such as the following:

BAT VK-42SE

Bryston BP20 + MPS2

CODA 07x

Benchmark LA4/HPA4

Holo Audio Serene

Schitt Freya+

Schitt Mjolnir v3

Topping pe90

The LA4 + HPA4 are my fav with unmatched clarity. The Serene and Kara seem similar in clarity (a bit more for the Serene) with the fun factor going to the Kara by a large margin.

Another thing that I learned last night is that the Kara will allow me to use a DAC I hated with my RAAL SR1a phones. That combo was so good that I have put the very best headphone amp for the SR1a, a $7k tube amp up for sale.

The tube amp is a tiny bit better, but it cost 10x more. Just for this fact alone makes the Kara worth it, but I love it on 2-channel too. The DAC is the Yggi+ LIM, it still is not great with the Magnepan Mini speakers + Wotan amp, but amazing with the phones.

I was planning on upgrading to the next Yggi+ version in the summer (not released yet), but now I am not changing a thing. I will use my Benchmark DAC3B for 2-channel, it is not good on the SR1a. These 2 DACs are opposites.

 

 

 

erik_squires
16,489 posts
 

The Parasound P7 was the best preamp short of the JC series.  Highly recommended.

andrewmland OP
3 posts
 

Follow-up: I appreciate everyone's suggestions here. After a ton of review and numerous rabbit holes, I decided to try the Rogue RP-7 that I was able to get a fantastic deal on a demo unit. It arrives in a couple of days and will get incorporated this weekend. If that isn't a good fit, probably next option to try will be the Benchmark LA4.

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