SS or Tube Preamps with Dual-Balanced outputs


I vertically bi-amp; I am looking for recommendations on fully balanced pre-amps that offer the ability to have 2 simultaneous balanced outputs. I am look for a full balanced circuit (some call this quad-balanced I believe).

Currently, I've been using a Classe CP-700 with excellent results for over a year and half. I like the Classe's build quality, separate power supply, air, clarity, imaging, musicality, etc...very much.

What other SS or Tube pre-amps offer dual-balanced outputs
with great imaging and other desirable sonic attributes?

Thanks!
zephyr24069

Showing 9 responses by pedrillo

Zephyr24069,
Thanks for compiling that list of preamps with balanced outputs.
It would help some of us if those with balanced circuits from input to output would be noted.
One I know of that is fully balanced from input to output is atma-sphere!
My only extensive experience is with simaudio's p-5 preamp, which is fully balanced. Unfortunately though it only has one balanced input, but it is an excellent preamp no doubt. No listener fatigue, except maybe when played too loud but that could be said with most other preamps or components. I whole heartily recommend it, just consider matching of components is critical at this level of performance. Now I am using the atma-sphere m60 amps, before i was using sim's w-5 power amp, and I could see using a tube preamp would serve me well with the m60's.
Zephyr,
no it's just a p-5.
But I understand the p-5.3 is a killer, never heard it though!
Zephyr24069,
Just wondering if I would be asking too much if a list of those that are balanced from input to output only, and create a seperate list of those that are not balanced throughout.
Thanks
Atma-sphere are balanced all the way.
So is aesthetix.
Here are those with balanced in to out.
** denotes balanced from input to output.
? denotes not known whether balanced throughout.

?Accuphase C-2810 (2 xlr)
?Accuphase C-2410 (2 xlr)
**Aestehtix Janus (2 xlr)
**Aesthetix Calypso (2 xlr)
**AtmaSphere Music Preamplifier MP3 (option)
**AtmaSphere New Music Preamplifier MP1 Mk. III (option)
Audio Horizons TP 2.1 (option)
**Audio Research LS26 (2 xlr)
**Audio Research Reference 3 (2 xlr)
Audionet Pre G2 (2 xlr)
Audiovalve Eklipse (unbalanced at 1 xlr)
**Ayre KX-R (2 xlr)
**BAT 51 SE (? xlr)
**BAT 52 SE (2 xlr)
**BAT REX (2 xlr)
?Belles 28A (No info, The 21 has 1 xlr unbalanced)
**Cary slp05 (on special order)
**Classe CP700 (2 xlr)
**Classe CP500 (1xlr)
?Esoteric C03 PreAmp (new)(1 xlr output)
?Jeff Rowland Capri (option? 1 Bal-XLR, 1 Unb-RCA std)
?Jeff Rowland Concerto (std)
?Jeff Rowland Criterion (std)
?Herron Audio
**Mcintosh C500 (2 xlr)
?Music First Audio MK II Preamplifier (TVC)
?Music First Audio Reference Preamplifier (TVC, Appears to have 2 xlr)
?Pass Labs XP20 (1 xlr)
?Plinius Tautoro (2 xlr)
Promitheus Audio Reference Ccore TVC (option)
?Rogue Audio Hera (2 xlr)
**SimAudio P7 or P8 (2 xlr)
?Sonic Frontiers Line3
?Supratek Dual Cabernet (appears as 1 xlr)
**VAC Phi Beta (2 xlr)
**VTL 7.5 (2 xlr)
**?YS Audio BALANCED A2 (2 xlr)

Well there is a list with fully balanced pre's noted by the asterisk.
Please feel free to correct any mistakes, I visited the websites of these companies to assertain the fully balanced feature.
Guidocorona,
Thanks for corrections, are you certain about the rowland gear, I read on their website transformer coupled, I don't know enough about circuitry so I may be wrong, but I thought that when preamp is not fully balanced it uses transformer in there to create a balanced output.
Please educate me.
Here are those with balanced in to out.
** denotes balanced from input to output.
? denotes not known whether balanced throughout.

?Accuphase C-2810 (2 xlr)
?Accuphase C-2410 (2 xlr)
**Aestehtix Janus (2 xlr)$6,500 --$3,810
**Aesthetix Calypso (2 xlr) $4,500 --$2,840
**AtmaSphere Music Preamplifier MP3 (option) $4,750 --$2,500
**AtmaSphere New Music Preamplifier MP1 Mk. III (option) $13,000 --$8,000
Audio Horizons TP 2.1 (option) $2,095 --$1,150
**Audio Research LS26 (2 xlr) $6,000 --$4,000
**Audio Research Reference 3 (2 xlr) $10,000 --$5,500
Audionet Pre G2 (2 xlr)
Audiovalve Eklipse (unbalanced at 1 xlr) $4,600
**Ayre KX-R (2 xlr) $18,500 --$10,000
**BAT 51 SE (? xlr) $9,000 --$4,300
**BAT 52 SE (2 xlr) $10,500 --$6,800
**BAT REX (2 xlr) $20,000 --$12,600
?Belles 28A (No info, The 21 has 1 xlr unbalanced)
**Cary slp05 (on special order) $7,500 --$4,000
**Classe CP700 (2 xlr) $7,000 --$3,750
**Classe CP500 (1xlr) $3,500 --$2,000
?Esoteric C03 PreAmp (new)(1 xlr output)
?Jeff Rowland Capri (option? 1 Bal-XLR, 1 Unb-RCA std) $2,700 --$2,000
?Jeff Rowland Concerto (std) $3,900 --$2,600
?Jeff Rowland Criterion (std) $18,000 --$12,000
?Herron Audio (not balanced)
**Mcintosh C500 (2 xlr) c500t $12,000 --$7,600
?Music First Audio MK II Preamplifier (TVC)
?Music First Audio Reference Preamplifier (TVC, Appears to have 2 xlr)
?Pass Labs XP20 (1 xlr) $8,600 --$5,300
?Plinius Tautoro (2 xlr) $8,350 --$5,200
Promitheus Audio Reference Ccore TVC (option)
?Rogue Audio Hera (2 xlr)
**SimAudio P7 $5,500 --$4,000
**Simaudio P8 (2 xlr)$11,000 --$7,600
?Sonic Frontiers Line3 $5,000 --$2,400
?Sonic Frontiers line3 se $6,000 --$3,200
?Supratek Dual Cabernet (appears as 1 xlr)
**VAC Phi Beta (2 xlr) $15,000 --$7,500
**VTL 7.5 (2 xlr) $10,000 --$7,000
**VTL 7.5 sII $16,000 --$8,800
**?YS Audio BALANCED A2 (2 xlr) a2se $1,500 --$750

Well there is a list with fully balanced pre's noted by the asterisk.
Please feel free to correct any mistakes, I visited the websites of these companies to assertain the fully balanced feature.