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Preamp for McCormack DNA500

Hi everyone!
I'm in the market for a new preamp for my McCormack DNA500 power amp. So far I've been using my Benchmark DAC-1 but it's time to move forward. Only thing that concerns me is the relatively low input impedance of the DNA500 which automatically excludes (at least partially) major preamps such as AR Ref3, CJ CT5, Lamm LL2 etc, all requiring input impedances over 20KOhm. I've read excellent reviews on Tom Evans's Vibe Lithos 7 but cannot find anything on synergy with low input impedance power amps.
Any suggestions or comments most welcome!
myronk
rja's avatar
rja
2,112 posts
 
How about the new McCormack preamp?
bar81
754 posts
 
That's the first thing that came to mind as well; stay in the family.
ptmconsulting
1,000 posts
 
If you can find one, the Audio Prism (or Red Rose) Mantissa preamp mates really well with McCormack amps. Yes, it's tubed. I know there are several posters with this combo (including myself) that wouldn't dare change a thing.

It has been around for 8-10 years now, but is hard to beat for musicality, transparency, quickness, imaging and bloom and such. The hard part, as I said before, is finding one for sale.

Enjoy,
Bob
Ag insider logo xs@2x
saygrr
72 posts
 
The SMC VRE-1 linestage is the first one that came to my mind also. I currently use an Audio Research LS-12 and like it very much with my DNA-1s but plan on buying Steves VRE-1 down the road some day.
mechans
2,999 posts
 
AE-3 will compete at this level.. Try it you will see.
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