I’m happy with my Vincent Audio PHO 300 preamp.
Reccomend a good preamp for me.
I have nixed the preamp for a while now with using only a DCS Rossini DAC going direct. I have that in the back of my room and a 10M pair of balanced cables that run to my various amps I use. I have been getting back into vinyl again and even a cassette player so I am in need of a preamp that will have at least one balanced input and 2 more RCA inputs. I have been trying different amps and speakers lately also and think I will land on some kind of lower powered tubes and higher efficiency speakers. I used to have a few nice preamps years ago and I always remember thinking the preamp was a big piece of the puzzle the heart maybe of the system. PS Audio BHK looks good maybe or a Pass Preamp? I'm out of the loop on preamps.
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ejlif OP The way you have it direct, (better than any preamp) is the best you’ll get from the Rossini. The Rossini has a 3ohm output impedance, and preset gain from 200mv to 6v output switchable. Using it with it’s own volume control with 10mt interconnects direct to your amps it will be the very best sound you can get. Just make sure with the 200mv to 6v preset gain level switching you have it so the Rossini’s volume control is up near full for the loudest you listen at, so you know your not "bit stripping". For a preamp to to give you more inputs and phono, I suggest using also an inline switch box between the Rossini and your amps so you can switch to a preamp from the Rossini dac this way you maintain the purest direct sound path for the Rossini to your amps still. Like this, output of this switch box to your amp/s, Rossini on input 1 and new preamp on input 2. https://goldpt.com/sw2x.html Cheers George |
I have been on a bit of a merry go round with gear but I think I will be settling on the Decware Zen Triode amp and I also probably keep around the Pass 30.8 as well. Speakers will be Klipsch Forte III and maybe going to upgrade to Cornwall once the dust has settled. I have Maggie LRS and Zu Dirty weekend and also just sold my Kef Blades. They are all good but I like the Forte III and Decware amp the best of the bunch. The Benchmark pre does look good as I don't think I would be looking for a flavor so much as just the function of a preamp mostly the multiple inputs but I'm not opposed to it either. I like the tubes and vinyl best so that kind of shows my priorities. I would consider something that had a top notch phono stage too, that could save me on a separate phono stage that I'm sure I'll want to upgrade at some point down the line. |
I will second an Atmasphere MP-1 for tubes and an Ayre KX-R for SS. I own both and they are very good. The Atma is pretty much stock and the KX-R is non-Twenty. If I have funds to play with, I am getting the Ayre upgraded, and the Atma fitted with Caddox resistors. Both companies are run by the nicest, and talented people you could ever meet. Bob |
I have 2 preamps that are rather opposites. The CODA 07x ($6K) and the Benchmark HPA4 or LA4. The Benchmark has no sound and it will pass the sound of the source with what seems to be no alteration of the signal. I would take the 30 day home trial of the $2500 LA4 preamp and hook up your DAC to XLR 1 input (optimized for DACs). You will get an amazing volume control on this preamp. There are a few posters that have $100k systems that have added the LA4 instead of a fancier preamp or DAC direct. I do not have the 07x delivered yet but I expect it to alter the sound. I had the CODA CSiB integrated for a while so I know the sound I am expecting. I want the sound to be warmed up for a specific use case. I think the Benchmark preamp is one of the very best at ANY price. |
I would personally prefer the PS Over the Pass. For me the Pass Lacks just a bit of Dynamics... I would also take a look at the SST Ambrosia Preamp.... It will sound very close to the PS, but give you a bit more flexibility and the convenience of SS. I'm sure that there are others that fit the bill, but this will definitely work well. Good luck |