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I am looking for a pre-amp (around $2,000 USD) new or used, to replace my Yamaha RXV-995 receiver. I will be using the Parasound HCA 2205AT power amp to drive my Magnepan MG1.6 and MMGs planar speakers.I've narrowed down the pre-amp choices to:
Parasound 2500u
B&K Ref 30
Anthem AVM2
(used Lexicon MC-1)
(used Proceed AVP)I don't care for all the DSP modes, but I want clean DTS and Dolby Digital decoding. Also, since I will be using the Pre-amp's D/A for CDs and DVDs, I'd like one with the best D/A converters. I also want audiophile quality 2-channel sound (since 80% of my listening is music).
What should I buy?
Thanks
Boris
Follow Ups:
My choice would be the B&K Ref 30. Actually I am spending my money on the B&K AVR 305. This comes with 5x150 amps. This is a 7.1 system and you can move 2 of the 5 amps to power the rears and use your own 2 channel amp to power the fronts. This system has a mode called direct, which is analog bypass. You don't need to worry about this system becoming obsolete, as it is upgradeable. In speaking with the Engineers at B&K, they say that the AVR305 & 307 have the Ref 30 right in it. Connections on the rear beat any preamp or receiver out there. Look at the spacing for spade connectors. Also, the AVR 305 can be had for less than $2,300.00. Good luck to you
If you can get dts/dd decoding from your dvd get the audiorefinement pre 5... It is a 2 channel preamp, that comes with a completly passive 6 channel pass thru. They call it 5.1 but it is really 6 channel so if you ever get dvd-a you would be able to use it for that. I have heard it and from my limited expereience sounds good. very simple no tone controls. made under licsence of YBA in asia. bout $850
> > I also want audiophile quality 2-channel sound (since 80% of my listening is music). < <If music listening is that important to you then using a HT preamp/processor will not give you "audiophile quality 2-channel sound". I suggest that you add a dedicated 2 channel preamp to do music duties. In fact, you could still use your Yamaha RXV-995 receiver to do HT duties. Simply run the front preamp outputs from the RX-V995 to the 2 channel preamp. Some 2 channel preamps will have a processor loop or bypass and if that is the case then connect the RX-V995 to that input. If not then connect the RX-V995 to an available input on the 2 channel preamp such as the AUX input. Connect the 2 channel preamp to your new external amp and you are set for both music and HT. Connect your CD player to the 2 channel preamp for music duites. Further all you would need is an additional 2 channel amp.
I agree with Michael 100%. In addition,because home theatre formats are changing very rapidly, HT preamps and receivers can become obsolete rather quickly. It is much cheaper to get excellent stereo from a quality seperate stereo preamp than a equivalent musically sounding HT preamp/receiver. On my budget, I went with the cheapest HT receiver with preouts and ran the HT front preouts to my 2 channel preamp for music.Good Luck
MattS
Would there be any problems in hooking up the HT main pre-outs to a pre-amp. I have a Yamaha DSP-3090A that I connect my components into and pass the pre-outs to a set of mono-blocks for the mains and use the HT recvr for all other channels. I am thinking of getting a better preamp and hook up the tuner, CD etc. to the pre-amp, then connect the HT mains pre-out to the pre-amp inputs. Finally, I connect the mono-blocks from the new pre-amp.Will this cause problems with two gain controls (one on the HT and one on the pre-amp)? What about distortion and other problems? Actually, I care more for the stereo audio than the home theater (90%/10%).
Any suggestions on how to set this system up?
Thx
Sal
Hi, from advice here I use my pre outs from my Yamaha RX-V2095 to feed into my Onkyo Pre-amp. My Arcam CD player is running through the preamp and not the Yamaha. I found that the receiver was terrible for music and did H/T pretty good. I use the video 2 input input and and it's run "direct". I set the volume at the 12 O clock position on the Preamp when watching DVD's and use the volume on my Yammie, just be carefull when you switch over to cd on the preamp that the volume is turned down. There is no dicernable distortion I'm hearing. Plus it will relieve the Yamaha from having to power the front two channels possibly increasing headroom. I don't like to run my sub so it's out as well but it can be used by setting the Yamaha to the cd input, just run the coaxial or toslink into the cd input on the receiver and adjust the volume if you want extra bass. Since my sub doesn't do music well I leave it off. I found that the Onkyo preamp did a much better job than my receiver! My 2 channel inputs are in the pre-amp and the DVD runs into the Yamaha. Good luck! I was really surprised by the difference this made. When I did this last month someone stated maybe this should be put in the FAQ section so people could have a reference on how to do it.
Peace!
Jim P.
Well, I have to chime in and say If you don't need the video switching, or don't mind using something like the extron. I would have to go with the Cal SSP 2500. I would be surprised if you could find much that will beat it in 2 channel, and it is pretty good for simple DTS/DD decoding also...Miles
agreed. tops at my list would one that does not automatically convert analog signals to digital without recourse.also look for one that maintains and outputs real 24bit/96khz rather than some variant that leads to 20-bit at end of chain, for example.
also component video and well done video switching would prove the unit is well designed. tall order and good starting point since many of us are stuck with these compromises and aren't thrilled about it :-)my two cents
Sherwood-Newcastle has a stereo direct mode.The B&K Ref 30 also has stereo direct.
The Anthem has a 6 channel direct. Which you could use the front L/R just for stereo.
Don't bother with an external DAC on the Parasound it doesn't have a direct mode. It has a 6 channel input with some kind of external volume control...
Will you be adding DVD-A or SACD to this system? If so, you need 5.1 inputs (and preferably) analog bypass on any input.The Parasound and Anthem AVM-2 have the 5.1 bypass input, but no other bypass inputs.
The B&K has 5.1 bypass and full analog bypass on any other input.
The Lexicons have no bypass modes.
The Proceed has stereo analog bypass. I don't know if if has 5.1 bypass -- so anyone that knows the answer to this, please chime in.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
I may be adding DVD-Audio in the future, but I don't really need the all-channel analog btpass as I am connecting my CD changer and DVD player digitally to the Preamp (because I want to use the Preamps D/A instead).So, having the best D/A is really important to me (as well as) decent DTS and Dolby digital decoding.
I also want the pre-amp to have no hum or any audible residual noise.
I've heard B&K are susceptible to this.
I had a B&K Ref 30. After sending it back for two repairs to get rid of digital noise that was output to the center channel when the preamp is in DIRECT mode(which is not truly direct....the volume is still in digital domain) and in any form of 2 channel mode, I gave up on it. I tried 3 other units on three other systems and they all had this problem. It's a shame about that too, because it does HT so well. For me it was not something I could live with. I did as some others have suggested and got a krell 2 channel preamp with a processor loop and a denon 3801 to pull 5.1 duties.
How can a processor have "analog bypass" and 5.1 channel direct inputs (5.1 bypass) and have the volume control in the "digital domain". To control volume in the digital domain, you have to have bits to work with, and there are none in the Reference 30 in direct mode or on the DVD-Audio input. These are self-contradictory.There are items such as the Crystal Semiconductor CS3310, which is a digitally controlled analog volume control. This volume control switches in and out discrete resistors in 0.5dB increments from -95.5dB of attenuation to +31.5dB of gain. Although interfaced digitally, it operates purely in the analog domain for volume control.
Care to cite your source of information for the comment that the volume control is in the digital domain?
Regards,
Sorry kotches, I must have misunderstood something.
If you do add dvd-a or sacd, you will need a 6-channel input with stereo/analog bypass as external d/a converters for these formats do not exist at this time. Take a look at the McIntosh MSD-4 processor/preamp...doesn't do video switiching, but some of the best dd and dts i've ever heard! Good luck to you.
On my system, which I'd consider to be entry level high-end, I have
no hum, no noise, with gain at maximum, and ears against the speakers.It's listed under inmate systems under my moniker, kotches.
Regards,
No the Proceed does not have 5.1 analog by pass
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