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
kofibaffour
65 posts
 

Uhm you already have a Preamp coming? why look for others without using what you have on the way first? @chippieboy 

yyzsantabarbara
5,036 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.

 

t_ramey
649 posts
 

@helomech  I like hearing stories like this. Can you share what other preamps you had that you ultimately preferred the A70 pro to?

jperry
2,474 posts
 

You could look for a used Luxman CL-38uC.

 

helomech
1,782 posts
 

@t_ramey 

I have had the Benchmark LA4, Bel Canto Pre5, Bel Canto PRe1 with Ace Tomato upgrades, the Coda Continuum CP, Mac C49, Schiit Freya (passive mode), Questyle CMA 12, Quad Artera, Topping Pre90 and Topping A90 Discrete. Also various line stage sections of integrated amps (some of which are surprisingly good), and DACs with volume control. Those are just the solid state ones that I can recall off the top of my head. 

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