WTB: Preamplifier

[OldiesButGoodies]

I was using an Emotiva USP-1 as my pre.  It was a nice piece - home theater pass thru and a good phono stage with a built-in moving coil step up transformer.  Sounded a bit better than an AV receiver as pre.  But Emotiva ticked me off by dropping the price $75 after I bought it and refusing to apply the discount to my purchase.  So I returned it - it was still within the 30 day return period. 

Since I am starting the search again,  I am interested in a pre with phono stage and tone controls.  I may end up getting an Emotiva XPS-1 (I am a masochist I guess),  but testing the waters here to see if anyone has a spare C19 or similar. 

PM me if you do!

Have a great weekend...  I am hitting Jerry's Records later today,  that is my treat for the weekend.

OBG

[StephenWVU]

I have a Tandberg 3008a, but I was wanting to sell it as a pair with the Tandberg 3006a amplifier.  They are currently at the shop, as they were being cleaned. 

[Steve_Rynn]

If you can find one for a good price - I loved my Marantz SC-11S1. It has a great phono stage (mm and mc), balanced connections, headphone amp and is built like a brick you know what. Very warm sounding but plenty of detail that seems to pair well with a lot of things. Only thing lacking are tone controls.

I ended up switching it out and getting the integrated amp version, the marantz pm15s1, but I honestly think it sounds better in preamp mode with my old b&k st202 as an amp. The pm15s1 does have tone controls and I actually like using them. It still sounds great as an integrated amp - but just a little quicker and more detailed as a separate. Also, I got this for cheaper than I sold the SC-11S1, and it seems to fly under the radar a little.

Just something else to think of - good luck on the search

[OldiesButGoodies]

ok thks for the advice will look into it. 

the hunt is fun - so I am not sweating using the receiver as a pre for a while...

[OldiesButGoodies]

Purchased a Parasound 2100 preamp today:

http://www.parasound.com/nc/2100.php

Seems to have everything I need and functionality-wise including tone control, and has design advantages over the Emotiva (Ex. goes into HT bypass mode automatically when off).  Parasound also makes decent phono stages so I am hopeful that the one in this pre will kick ass.  Will report when I get it.

[StephenWVU]

Congratulations! Can't wait for you to tell us how it sounds. Should I assume you will not want the Tandberg equipment? Planning on listing it on ePay on Wednesday.

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

(Ex. goes into HT bypass mode automatically when off). 

What does this mean?

[OldiesButGoodies]

in my set up i use the eq for home theater and two-channel audio.  the Parasound will only do its thing for 2 channel audio - vinyl, rtr, CD. when off it becomes a invisible to the av receiver upstream,  which sends its left and right front signals through it to get to the power amps.

so it meant I do not have to turn on and press the HT bypass button on the Parasound to use the home theater,  just leave that pre off.

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

So you have your two channel and your HT in the same room?   I think I get it now.

[OldiesButGoodies]

Yes.  I have to move the Magnepans into two-channel listening position when I do that to form the triangle,  otherwise they are in their Dolby spot.