ctguru Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 Afternoon After some brand suggestions for preamps (doesn’t need phono) Current Myryad MI120 setup with MA240, but want to upgrade to a preamp love the Myryad sound and would like a MP100, but hard to find at the right price what other brands do people suggest? Hard to search on audio that’s 20years old thinking of Brands like Arcam, really don’t like audiolab/tag mclaren (too bright) any other brand suggestions that I can add to my search list on the second hand market? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctguru Posted March 19, 2021 Author Share Posted March 19, 2021 Forgot to say, probably changing MA240 to an Elektra power amp that I just got second hand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stereo coffee Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 The best advice I can give you,if you really enjoy music , is to accept that your source component has your best chance of hearing audio as it can possibly occur. By all means try and improve your source component, but knowing about consumer line level which is the output that exits the RCA pins of your source, will permit you to hear what that component is doing, by not adding or detracting. For consumer audio source equipment the figures are here. If you wish to have minimal change to the source audio quality then it suggests simply attenuating for volume purpose, is all that is needed. Your power amp should have similar level sensitivity as shown as 0.375mv RMS in this power amplifiers data. If on the other hand you think you can randomly insert circuitry in between your source and power amp, and at the same time it magically does not to detract or change the source audio, ...you would be on to something , we should all perhaps know about. There though is just one example of this, it is borrowed from what the recording industry has been doing since 1965 ... but is slightly complicated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctguru Posted March 19, 2021 Author Share Posted March 19, 2021 13 minutes ago, stereo coffee said: The best advice I can give you,if you really enjoy music , is to accept that your source component has your best chance of hearing audio as it can possibly occur. By all means try and improve your source component, but knowing about consumer line level which is the output that exits the RCA pins of your source, will permit you to hear what that component is doing, by not adding or detracting. For consumer audio source equipment the figures are here. If you wish to have minimal change to the source audio quality then it suggests simply attenuating for volume purpose, is all that is needed. Your power amp should have similar level sensitivity as shown as 0.375mv RMS in this power amplifiers data. If on the other hand you think you can randomly insert circuitry in between your source and power amp, and at the same time it magically does not to detract or change the source audio, ...you would be on to something , we should all perhaps know about. There though is just one example of this, it is borrowed from what the recording industry has been doing since 1965 ... but is slightly complicated. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al.M Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) Here’s a list and Stereo Coffees preamp is highly recommended, not bright at all very transparent https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/topic/325588-sna-amplifiers-and-preamps-audition-shortlist/ Other older options are Audio a Research Ls7, Conrad Johnson etc. Edited March 20, 2021 by Al.M 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctguru Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 10 minutes ago, Al.M said: Here’s a list and Stereo Coffees preamp is highly recommended, not bright at all very transparent https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/topic/325588-sna-amplifiers-and-preamps-audition-shortlist/ Other older options are Audio a Research Ls7, Conrad Johnson etc. Cheers think my thinking is stuck in the analogue age. Probably end up running my source straight into a dsp with gain control and experiment with that. Been a while since I looked at all this stuff thanx for everyone’s input Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) On 19/03/2021 at 1:20 PM, ctguru said: Forgot to say, probably changing MA240 to an Elektra power amp that I just got second hand Then why not buy the complementary Elektra "Pnyx" tube preamp. @buddyevmay have one for sale soon. I suggest it will make the Elektra sound better than just running it straight into a DSP unit which has gain control. Andy Edited March 20, 2021 by andyr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyev Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 4 minutes ago, andyr said: Then why not buy the complementary Elektra "Pnyx" tube preamp. @buddyevmay have one for sale soon. I suggest it will make the Elektra sound better than just running it straight into a DSP unit which has gain control. Andy Not for a $1000, @andyr. Maybe the previous version. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 31 minutes ago, buddyev said: Not for a $1000, @andyr. Maybe the previous version. Aah, yes - I forgot yours has the phono stage in it, Russ. Sorry. Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cafe67 Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irek Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Other options around $1k: Topping pre90 Gustard P26 Shiit Saga + Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRogers Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Cymer. Elson Silva makes preamps here in Sydney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlr8or Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 (edited) A used tube preamp such as the one below will complement your existing system very nicely. You can roll the tubes to dial in your preferred listening tastes. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tube-Valve-Audio-Preamplifier-Huge-Detail-And-Sound-Stage-Symphony-Plus-/303924992060 Review available here: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/anybody-own-audio-experience-symphonies Edited March 21, 2021 by xlr8or Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ooogh Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 A Croft micro 25 brand new from the builder can be yours for 700 pounds. Simply a great valve preamp that does everything well for a very low cost, includes a MM phono stage which may be excess to your requirements. For only 400 pounds you can have the Micro 25 basic. Not one I have listened to but Croft build great preamps at extremely low cost verses sound quality. It may well change your listening enjoyment in a very positive way. A valve pre into a solid state power amp can be an absolute revelation. http://www.croftacoustics.co.uk/micro25.html 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlr8or Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 (edited) 58 minutes ago, Ooogh said: A Croft micro 25 brand new from the builder can be yours for 700 pounds. Simply a great valve preamp that does everything well for a very low cost, includes a MM phono stage which may be excess to your requirements. For only 400 pounds you can have the Micro 25 basic. Not one I have listened to but Croft build great preamps at extremely low cost verses sound quality. It may well change your listening enjoyment in a very positive way. A valve pre into a solid state power amp can be an absolute revelation. http://www.croftacoustics.co.uk/micro25.html Here is a used one: https://m.ebay.com.au/itm/CROFT-MICRO-25-VALVE-AMPLIFIER/124646110746 Edited March 22, 2021 by xlr8or 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batty Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 Elekit TU-8500 also has an MM phono but you don't have to use it yet...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutatis Mutandis Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 (edited) I have been using an Eastern Electric Mini Max pre for some time now and have really enjoyed it. They typically go for < $A1000 but aren't that common down here. It is a few years old - but is widely viewed as a bit of a giant killer. It is a valve jobby, so it is a bit like me, warm but not too bright ..... Edited March 25, 2021 by Mutatis Mutandis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts