Integrated to use as preamp for now?


OK my pre is going into the shop and will take awhile to be fixed. I am looking for a suggestion for an integrated that can be used as a preamp just for the 2 months or so then be converted for use in an office system later. I figure I need 50 watts for the system later but it also needs a decent pre with an out for use inline to my amp. SS or tube doesnt really matter. Like to keep it under $600.
joekapahulu
What about a used Peachtree Audio Decco? Should be around $500 and it meets your stated specs.

Steve
Audio Refinement? A little laid back but doesn't do anything wrong. Should be available for about $400-$500.
Other "usual suspects" would be Rega, Linn, Creek, Music Hall, or NAD.
within your budget, arcam alpha or a65/75 or music hall 25 should do ya nicely. i'm currently using an arcam alpha 9 as a pre and i like it mucho.
Re the possibility you mentioned of a tube integrated, keep in mind that a tube power amplifier (or the power amplifier section of a tube integrated amplifier) should NEVER be operated without a speaker load (or equivalent, in the form of a high power non-inductive resistor). That is particularly true if a music signal is going through the amplifier.

If you do want to consider a tube integrated amplifier, I would suggest choosing one that has both preamp out and power amp in jacks, so that you could operate it with no signal going into the power amp section. You could then attach a relatively low power resistor like this one to each of the amplifier's two output channels, as a dummy load.

Regards,
-- Al