2. amps-preamps
  3. 1377823658

Need Preamp Advice For Adding a Turntable

This is my first post on Audiogon, so please be gentle. Over the last several years I've been able to find the help that I've needed just searching through the forums, but now I could use advice specific to my system. I understand this is all subjective and everyone's hearing is different, I'm just hoping for a little shove in the right direction.

My system consists of:
Ayre K5xe mp Preamp
PS Audio PerfectWave DAC
PS Audio PerfectWave Transport
Theta Dreadnaught Amp
Vandersteen 5A Speakers

I'm pretty happy with the current sound, though, at times I've wondered if I could improve on it with a different preamp or possibly other tweaks. The Ayre is a great piece and I only mention changing it because it's been my experience that the preamp has the greatest affect on the sound. It's very easy to listen to, but I feel like something is missing. This may be due to previously having a tube preamp with class A mono blocks before having to move and go without a stereo for a couple of years. I've just recently finished piecing this system together so my ears haven't had a ton of time to adjust and I'm just happy to be able to play music again.

So now I'm hoping I can draw on other's experiences as to whether I should look into just adding a phono preamp to my current system, or go with a preamp with a built in phono stage or possibly replacing the Ayre K5xe mp with a separate line stage plus phono preamp that mate well together.

The type of sound that I enjoy is fairly neutral and transparent with a good amount of detail, a large soundstage with good separation and timbre with maybe a touch of bloom. Something musical and fairly accurate.

Features I'm looking for:
Solid State (have to integrate into HT, tubes a possibility)
Home Theater Pass Through
Fully Balanced
XLR and RCA inputs
Remote
Under $5K used

Preamp models I've read about, but have no experience:
Pass Labs XP-10 or XP-20
Parasound JC-2
Sim Moon
Aesthetix Calypso or Janus

Phono Preamps, also no experience with them:
Pass XP-15
Ayre P5xe
Aesthetix Rhea

I do enjoy what a nice tube preamp can add to a system, but am hoping to get as close as I can with a solid state preamp since it's going to be integrated with my HT and I don't want to burn up tubes watching movies and television. The phono preamp could be either tube or solid state. And my focus is on music and not HT even though I'm merging the two.

I appreciate any and all feedback on these models along with any other suggestions or advice that anyone may have to offer. And thank you for taking the time to read my post.
firsttoact
zd542
5,339 posts
 
How many channels on your Theta are you using?
babybear's avatar
babybear
106 posts
 
A few years back I had a somewhat similiar system to yours - Vandy 5A speakers paired with the Theta Citadel amps (similiar sonics as the Dreadnaught) and I used an ARC Ref 3 preamp. While a little older now, the Ref 3 has all of the features that you listed and you should be able to find one used at $5K or less. I think that the Ref 3 paired with the Dreadnaught will provide the sonic attributes that you are looking for and in my opinion, would be a definite step up in sound from the Ayre K5xe MP preamp.

With the Ref 3, you would need a separate phono stage but you haven't given any budget for that or what analog front end you plan to use.

Hope that helps and good luck,

Arnie
firsttoact OP
8 posts
 
Zd542,
I'm using all five channels. Two for the Vandy 5As, two for the VSM-1s, and one for the VCC-2. I've considered adding another to bi-amp the 5As, but that would defeat its purpose to save space.

The Dreadnaught has actually surprised me and I'm rather happy with it. I had thought that I'd be taking a step back going from monoblocks and a three channel amp to the Dreadnaught, but I'm pretty content. My priority is music and this amp does that well. I haven't had a chance to try it with home theater yet and wonder how it will do.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
The reason I ask is it looks like you are looking for an upgrade to get a little more out of your system, and the improvement doesn't necessarily, have to come in the form of a new preamp. Have you tried using 4 channels on your Model 5's? If you haven't, you may be in for a pretty big surprise. The Dreadnaught is a very underrated amp. It was designed by Charles Hanson from Ayre.

As far as a preamp goes, the one you have now is great. Not only is it a great preamp by itself, but its very well matched to the rest of the system. The K5 is a very hard component to out class, but given the quality of everything else in your system, you can justify an upgrade. For SS goes, you may be able to pick up a used K1. Even if its an older unit, you can always have it upgraded. That will pair very well with an Ayre P5 phono preamp.

For tubes, Aesthetix would definately be a top pick. Given the rest of your system, you can't go wrong. The only thing to consider is if you should go with a Calypso and a Rhea or a Janus. You'll be happy either way. Babybear mentioned the ARC Ref 3. I think that would definitely be a good choice too. Its a bit more lively than the Aesthetix. Its a faster sounding preamp with great pacing.
More to discover