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Good preamp for Levinson 23 w/Gershman X1/SW1

I would appreciate some recommendations for a preamp to match well with a ML #23 amplifier and Gershman Acoustic X1/SW2 speakers.

Would like to keep it under $1K and am looking for that nice airy, smooth sound.

Was thinking perhaps ARC LS-2. Any thoughts on that?

Prefer to use XLR between the preamp and amp as the Levinson has either CAMAC or XLR, but not RCA inputs.

Thanks in advance.
whoaru99
jvogt
212 posts
 
The 26 is a nice preamp, and you might also consider the
ML-1. It's an older Levinson preamp but very smooth,
tight tuneful bass, clean highend. It occasionally
is available for ~$1000. I've owned both and they are
excellent.
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,517 posts
 
Who: I ran across an ML-28 on Ebay. It's sort of a stripped down 26 (no phonostage or tape loop) but similar vintage w/ balanced and SE outputs. Worth up to $1200 I'd say.
bemopti123
303 posts
 
a FS Presence MKI will do the job nicely, that is if you can find one...they run between 1k-1500. It bigger brother the MKII goes for $2500+. I own the X-1s and the SW-1s as well and have been driving them with the FS preamps since a couple of years back. My latest FS preamp is the Paramount Deluxe MKII Hot Rod with just one input and separate power supplies.

PS: What sort of amp do you run the Gershmans with?
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