Vintage HiFi Audio Forum
Audio Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: bmwr75 on July 28, 2012, 05:25:48 PM
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I have a partially restored Marantz 3200 preamp. It has a higher noise floor than I'd like. The noise is volume control dependent up to about 10 o'clock and then it levels out.
AM thinking about buying a budget, solid state, current production preamp. Or a good used one less than 10 years old. Should I be considering any thing else besides the new $382 Emotiva USP-1?
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http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=P-3000R&class=Reference&p=s (http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=P-3000R&class=Reference&p=s)
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One man's "budget"... :o
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@SD - the Onkyo is not quite in the same price range. ;D
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You can get an Onkyo Integra P-304 on ePay for around 150-ish. They have stellar specs and a pretty damn good phono section.
And they do very well with cans.
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I've got an onk p-308 that's a bit less than mint for $125 if interested...
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That's a great price for that, Ed. If Scott isn't interested, I may be.
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Thanks Ed, but I'll pass on the P-308. Looking for something that is <10 years old.......or a real classic piece that has been refurbished.
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@Scott: That's cool. I just figured I would throw it out there. The 308 is a piece of work. It's definitely one of the best sounding preamps I have ever owned. Chock full of electrolytics. It's just collecting dust as a back-up right now, though.
@Elijah: If you are just looking to upgrade your 304, you could trade me your Pre and a case of 60 minute. So as to avoid hijacking this thread any more, PM or Facebook me.
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This Marantz 3200 preamp is driving a 5 watt tube amp a buddy built one off.
Switched to a pair of 600 ohm Beyer cans today and the buzz and hum I was hearing with some 50 ohm Fostex's disappeared. The old adage holds true...........
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I scored an Aragon 28K MkII today that looks very nice and is well thought of in web nets. For $300 I found it hard to pass up (even has a remote). It is one of those high-endish preamps that scoffs at the idea of tone controls (which I personally find useful, even if they allegedly add noise - so shoot me). Will post a report later. I have to post a report on the Black Beauty Bob amps w the KT-88 tubes, on this Aragon pre, the Rega RP1 w performance pack, and the Reference MM 3as. And the Jolida JRC1501 hybrid. And the Sennheiser HD 265s. Just writing this paragraph made me tired! Stay tuned.
Get the USP-1 and report back! All I hear is good, and for the price you cannot go wrong!
OBG
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what tubes in the BB'S?
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The BBs normally come with six KT-120s each, but Tom recommended I use six KT-88s for my application. A bit less power (240 wpc I think) but sweeter sound, according to my dealer. All I can tell you is that they sound pretty damn good and I am not hurting for power!
:P