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Please suggest good balanced Preamp


I woould like to get your experiences with and recomendadtions for balanced preamp with XLR input/output and possiblly balanced design from input to output. Cost around $3500 or less (used or new) would be good. Less is better. My criterias are :
1. Extreme transparency.
2. Extreme low noise. S/N > 100 dB.
3. Phono is not required but I have no objection if it has phono.
4. Minimum one pair of XLR input and one pair of XLR outputs.
5. Remote will be good but I can compromise a remote for the quality of the preamp.
6. Tube (preferable) or SS

I tend to prefer tube preamp over SS, but very good SS pre is not out of question. I am too lazy in tube rolling business and like to stick to the stock tubes that comes with the pre from the manufacturer. I know, I will miss the best capability by not rolling tubes. But I don't want to fill up my house with tubes.

Few recomendadtions I have received are:
ARC Ref 3 (out of my price range)
Ayre K1xe (little over my budget even used)
Pass Labs XP10 (this may be within my budget if used)
McCormack VRE-1 ( model ??, have not seen in used market)
VTL 7.5 (way over my budget even used)
Atma Sphere MP-1 (also costly)
Asthetix Calypso (many complains very noisy, does not fit my criteria).

What can you suggest for an exceptional balanced tube preamp of similar caliber of preamps mentioned above within my budget ?
Thanks,
topmostaudio
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I'm using Pass Labs XA-60.5 amplifiers with a Lamm L2 Reference preamplifier.

The Pass Labs is the best solid state amp I've owned bar far, and perhaps the best amp I've owned period...tube or solid state, although the VAC Phi 110/110 was exceptionally good, too. I've owned some excellent tube amps that were poor matches for my speakers, so a fair commentary is impossible to make.

The Lamm L2 Reference is the best preamp I have owned in most respects, although I have owned some outstanding tube preamps over the years (ARC Ref 3, First Sound Presence Deluxe II, Supratek Cortese, and others...).

I apologize in advance for not writing a comparison/contrast essay on the dozen or so amps I've owned.
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t
1,486 posts
 
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ARC LS-10 solid state....used around $2k.....they come up for sale a couple of times a year here on the 'Gon.
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homosapien's avatar
homosapien
70 posts
 
Cary SLP-05 is outstanding preamplifier.
2005fan
2 posts
 
Would you describe type of music you listen most? What other equipment you have? I suggest find a set of songs you like most and listen most. Use that set of music when you try out different pre-amp. You would be able to tell one does more details or better stage than the other. With that, finding the characteristics are more imprtant to you.

I found Conrad Johnson 16LS is great and end up with ART2. I think CJ is great for vocal music. I do not care about deep strong bass or find the stage from a orchestra. None the less, 16LS or ART2 perform above average all around.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
If one is spending the kind of dollars required to purchase an ARC REF3, CJ ART2, Lamm L2 Reference or similar, then the preamp ought to excel on all music. If it doesn't then it's not worth the money, IMO.
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