Balanced preamp

[boegelund]

A friend is looking for an affordable balanced preamplifier, any recommendations ?

 

[Markus S]

Depends on what's "affordable". I will shortly be selling my my Ayre K-5 xe MP and can very much recommend it.

 

[JTC]

I've been very impressed with the Eastern Electric Avant Reference balanced valve preamp. Very, very good for the money.

 

[boegelund]

Budget is limited but not fixed, anything below £1K or better yet half of that if possible, OTOH flexible if the "right" choice pops up

Whats the most obviously purchase out there?, neutral and reliability is high priority, not sure any interest in valve or any flavour of the month chinese manufactured, remote control is not important
Anything interesting preferred from the 80'ies or 90'ies vintage ?

 

[franz159]

On last Hi-Fi choice number there was a review of Parasound P5 pre-amplifier, selling new for 999£.
Probably not "hi-end", but it seems quite interesting indeed and for sure "complete", given its 5 line inputs, digital inputs (coaxial, optical, usb), MM/MC phono stage,1 XLR balanced input, 1 XLR balanced output, 2 subwoofer output, line output....

 

[mattski]

John's Auralic Taurus Pre in dealer classifieds is good and a good price...

 

[boegelund]

Thanks

Meridian 502 anyone ?

 

[Dozey]

My choice would be the Music First Classic preamp (passive autotransformer). Current retail is £1700 in the UK.

 

[realysm42]

My choice would be the Music First Classic preamp (passive autotransformer). Current retail is £1700 in the UK.

If you can get one of these s/h then snap it up. Fantastic bit of kit.

It's got no circuits that can fail, so should be pretty reliable. I've got one with the mk.ii transformers and it's a keeper, very very neutral and great dynamics.

 

[halvis]

There is a Project valve pre-amp with balanced in/out available for about £600. It looks like a good bet, has pretty favourable reviews around the internet. Have not tried it myself though, but would if I could - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AE7YTTW/?tag=pinkfishmedia-20

 

[killie99]

Does he need a phono input? If he does then an EAR 864 is a stunning pre-amp. Utterly superb MM and MC phono, a raft of inputs and a balanced input. Seen them go for around £1000 for an old one, build quality superb and very reliable.

 

[ChrisPa]

Meridian G02

 

[hifinutt]

the bel canto pre 3 is also very good , just below a mfa classic mark one in performance and the vbs version is even better and not far off the mfa classic mark 2 performance

 

[Igloo Audio]

A friend is looking for an affordable balanced preamplifier, any recommendations ?

Does he need balanced in/out or just balanced out? Also, what amplifier does he plan to use?

Regards,
Peter

 

[boegelund]

Does he need a phono input? If he does then an EAR 864 is a stunning pre-amp. Utterly superb MM and MC phono, a raft of inputs and a balanced input. Seen them go for around £1000 for an old one, build quality superb and very reliable.

He allready have a separate phonostage

 

[boegelund]

Meridian G02

Is that eqvivalent to the older 502 ?

 

[boegelund]

Does he need balanced in/out or just balanced out? Also, what amplifier does he plan to use?

Regards,
Peter

He will need balanced out for poweramp which not yet final decided

 

[Igloo Audio]

He will need balanced out for poweramp which not yet final decided

I would suggest an ATC CA2/P1 combination.

Peter

 

[boegelund]

+ 1
I use mine with a power amp costing 5-6 times more!

Certainly interesting, will it match all balanced poweramps ?

Later I will provide a list of suggested(by my friend) balanced poweramps

In total budget will be £2-2.5

 

[Cdb3]

Is that eqvivalent to the older 502 ?

Yes - Meridian claim the G series is a development of and improvement on the 5 series equivalents. I have just sold my G02 here and you should be able to get one in very good condition for around £700 plus. The G56 and G57 are the matching balanced power amps.