Budget preamps less than 3 bills......winner is?


Hey folks for 2nd systems always looking for sleeper preamps...Nad 1600...wow...the tuner in this is very good...and I own a Magum D...and the phono is very, very quiet...remote is worthless off axis but small quibble...this is a great used buy....Adcom 565...more of a transparent, hi end sound...in other words...very nuetral...less romantic than others...well known phono is highly regarded although at the time i never used it...nice piece...build is below NAD and this has no remote or tuner...belles xlm...very hi build...not remote...only mc phono...full bodied sound with muted highs...nice vintage sound but the most dated sounding IMHO...others? Forte, Nakamichi...
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Space-Tech Labs' entry level preamp (tube) is fantastic. Hand wired. I doubt it can be beat at 2x the price. It's $480 Canadian. Not too long ago that would have fit your price range in US dollars. OUCH!
Channel Island passive preamp with remote, a real sleeper that can compete with preamps costing 3 times the list cost. No phono section, must add phono preamp.