2. amps-preamps
  3. 194131-198276

Preamp Options under $3500

I am looking for recommendations on a Preamp. I would like to keep it under $3500.

Remote control is a must. MC Cartridge input would also help. I don’t have the room nor budget for a MC Phono Preamp. As much as I hate to say it; I also could use tone controls. I like to boost the Treble just a bit to compensate for my 70 year old ears.

I have a 2025 Quad 33 in route but not sure how that is going to workout.

System is as follows: VPI Classic with AT OC9XSL Cart. Mac Mini running Qobuz feeding via USB a Denafrips DAC, Mark Levison No 23 Amp feeding Martin Logan Request.

chippieboy

Showing 1 response by yyzsantabarbara

yyzsantabarbara
5,091 posts
 

I have a Schitt Kara F preamp that replaced the 4x more expensive Holo Audio Serene. The Serene was very good but after a head-2-head with a friend's DIY preamp, the bloom fell off the Serene for me.

I figured the $799 Kara F would be very close to the Serene. It is about 85% as good as the Serene so I sold the Serene.

The Kara F is going into a Schitt Wotan amp (which I really like). I have the Schitt Yggi+ MIB DAC also in the system. 

I put my Benchmark HPA4 preamp into the system and loved the sound over the Kara F. As I have said in many posts. You can give me a million $ and for audio and I still use the HPA4 or LA4 preamps. 

I even have my office and Livingroom system hooked up to the same HPA4 preamp at the same time. Of course, only one system plays at any time.

The Kara F still gets used, but now only for my RAAL SR1a earphones, via the same Schitt Yggi+ MIB DAC and the Schitt Aegir amp.

 

More to discover