Preamps

Ricred1:  I know something about the corus and 625 amp as I owned them and should have kept them.  If I had just ponied up and bought the uber power supply I think I’d be miles ahead of trading and selling to TRY to find something better. I would beg borrow or steal to get to try that power supply in my home. I bet jeff would help if you call him directly. It’s absolutely worth the effort imho. you’d then have something very special.

Another Ayre KX-R recommendation.  They are more than your target price, but you can sometimes find them on audiogon for sale.

VAC will do phono, sub, by bypass. I love mine. 

itsjustme,

"I think step #1 is to identify what you think the weaknesses of the Rowland are, and /or what you want further improved.
Honestly with out that its a crap shoot/"

I submit many people on Audiogon, not all, make comments about components that they haven't actually listened to or heard in a familiar system. Part of my journey is knowledge based. It isn't about a perceived weakness in the Corus, but how does the Jeff Rowland Corus preamp compare to similarly priced preamps in the context of my system. I hear a lot of people say Rowland preamps aren't good. I recently went through a similar journey with my speakers and DAC. After listening to several speakers and DACs I'm completely satisfied with my speakers and DAC. I would be a fool to just sell my Corus without listening to other preamps. I will have the Esoteric C-02X preamp on Wednesday and I plan on listening to the Emm Labs preamp. For better or worse I'll be sure to post my findings. 

Virtually all tube preamps are ‘not’ designed to drive a main and secondary amp(subwoofer). ARC addresses this on their website. I have a friend that has looked far and wide for for a duo amp driving tube pre and i believe vtl turned up as satisfactory but at a price. of course

@itsjustme Very good advice.  Not figuring that out probably accounts for a majority of the constant component switching audiophiles undertake.  Having said that, it's something hard to do without experience.

There were just too many recording where I really didn’t want the band in the room because the mastering sucked.

It shouldn’t be too hard to set the system up so when good recordings are played it goes source direct to poweramp, and you use the sources volume control.
But when bad recordings are played the source goes through an active preamp using it volume control that de-focuses them and makes them more listenable.

What’s needed is a source/preamp switcher to the poweramp/s.

Source direct outputs have to be disconnected from the amp inputs, and re-directed to the preamp inputs, and the preamp outputs then connected to the amps inputs. All done powered up with just one flick of a switch without any clicks, pops or bangs.

Cheers George

I think step #1 is to identify what you think the weaknesses of the Rowland are, and /or what you want further improved.
Honestly with out that its a crap shoot/
G

It's my understanding that ARC preamps have issues when using a subwoofer and I have a JL Audio F112 v2 sub.

@georgehifi said: ...going direct can sound absolutely stunning with unmatched transparency and dynamics with the good to best recordings, but then almost unlistenable with the bad recordings,
---
Precisely my experience with a wonderful passive I auditioned that was much cleaner than the DAC volume control.  There were just too many recording where I really didn't want the band in the room because the mastering sucked.  A real conundrum.  Can I handle the truth? I'm back to that loosy-goosy search for a "sweet sounding" linestage.

Another nod for Ayre. I also recommend T+A P3000HV. 

There is a demo T+A on Agon, 

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis8hd59-t-a-elektroakustik-p3000hv-available-in-titanium-and-silv...

And this is hot off the press for you to consider, 

https://www.stereophile.com/content/emm-labs-dv2-da-processor

Should you choose to look into a Tube pre, ARC Ref6 should be on your list. I believe it will be a killer pre for your 625 S2 amp. 

Thanks to everyone for responding. I will look into a couple of the recommendations. I actually need a preamp with HT bypass, so going direct isn't an option anymore.

When I first received the Dave I tried it straight into the amp and preferred music with the preamp inserted.

Yes, I can see that. But first you have to make sure you weren't "bit stripping" if the volume on the Dave was below 75% of full you could have been losing "bits" (lowering the resolution from 16bit to 14 to 12 ect the lower you go below 75%).
  
If it wasn't "bit stripping"  then yes going direct can sound absolutely stunning with unmatched transparency and dynamics with the good to best recordings, but then almost unlistenable with the bad recordings, it gives you everything warts and all and pulls no punches.

A preamp will be a a bit of an equalizer pulling back a little on the good/best recordings, and making the bad one a bit easier to listen to.
It all depends if your prepared to cull some of those bad recordings for the sake of hearing the good ones at their very best. 

Cheers George  

Definitely consider and audition the GamuT D3i. We used it last year at AXPONA and will again this year, along with their D200i mono amps. Incredible combined natural sound and resolution. It is available with a phono stage. PF and other reviews available online.
Note: the GamuT's USA distributor also distributes our product and is a personal friend. I have no commercial interest in/with the GamuT products.Good luck with your search.

Ayre KX-R
a superb SS preamp from a now departed genius
... and a fanatical implementation of volume control

Since you likely are never gaining your input source voltages, it doesn’t really matter if the preamp is active or not. 
  
How are you unhappy if you stated you don’t know what you don’t know? Try not using the pre-amp and drive your amp directly with the Dave (keep music at max level and turn down the level on the Dave. Compare that with using a preamp. 
 
A preamp is never improving the sound quality, so unless you need amplification or a different output impedance, a preamp can only harm the sound. If you get a good enough preamp, then any harm is negligible. So, it’s main duties are simply volume control and source switching. 
 
I am unaware if the Dave takes care of intersample overs; if not, it’s best to lower the volume on it to -3dB. 
 
So again, try comparing using the Dave directly against using your preamp, unless there is some crazy issue with output impedance, a preamp added will never sound better (unless the volume control on the DAC/source is poorly done), so directly from the Dave should sound the best possible.

Try to find an Ayre K1xe. with the optional phono and remote

elevick,


When I first received the Dave I tried it straight into the amp and preferred music with the preamp inserted.

Have you tried using the volume on the Dave and skipping the pre?  It's an amazing piece of equipment and should do well.

George, 

Thanks for the recommendation. 

Schiit Freya. https://www.schiit.com/products/freya

3 preamps in one S/S, Tube, Passive.
best mechanical volume control 128 position relay
remote control
5 inputs 2 outputs
xlr or se
low/zero gain so it uses most/all of the source signal, instead of shunting a lot of it to ground like most active pre's do, which gives lower noise.

Cheers George

celander,
Active solid state

OP: Do you want an active solid state preamp? Are you open to passive preamps?

4425,
I'm glad you love your Luxman components.

my experience with a 625/aeris/corus set up a few years ago was that in comparison to aeris direct the corus was softer and frankly boring. on the other hand the aeris was too hot. end result is i sold it all for better or worse. things change so it’s hard to compare a few years later but i now have a luxman c-900u plus m-900u and boring w current setup has never crossed my mind. but.. different speakers cables etc. i do i know enough to say that i’m pretty sure that the corus is not a special piece except perhaps with the optional upgraded 9k power supply. fwiw

I've compared my JR 625 S2 amplifier to several other amplifiers in my system and I prefer the 625 S2. I haven't compared the Corus to any other preamp; therefore I don't know, what I don't know. Unless I compare the Corus to other similarly priced preamps, I simply don't know the strengths or weaknesses it has. For what it's worth, many people have told me the Corus is my weak link and now I'm curious to hear other preamps.

As far as you not liking Rowland...there are no absolutes in audio, only preferences. 

What do you feel strongly about the Corus?

Would be real nice to hear from your experience. Thank you

(I don’t like Rowland, for the record)