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In Reply to: RE: Looking to S'phile's Rec. Comps. for help choosing preamps to audition/buy? posted by Rick W on March 23, 2015 at 10:20:27
One, I think this is where being a subscriber comes in handy, because Stereophile has reviewed pre-amps in the category you are looking within. The problem is that those components leave the RC list after three years, and so although the pre-amp may still be a recommendable component, it is not in RC.
Two, I agree that in comparison with the other components, budget oriented pre-amps seem to get short shrift in Stereophile, despite those components being available. Off the top of my head, I am thinking of fare from BAT, Art Audio, Cary, Herron, E.A.R., Ayre, Rogue, Atma-Sphere, Accustic Arts, Melody, Allnic, Jolida, Leben, Manley, First Sound, Canary, Bryston, Belles, Blue Circle, Audio Space, Valvet, and Octave.
Stereophile has reviewed equipment from a number of these manufacturers, some being their more budget oriented widgets, but very rarely their more budget oriented pre-amps.
Follow Ups:
FWIW we just introduced an entirely single ended preamp that is budget minded. Review at the link below.
We are also doing them in black...
Except for discussions like this one on a web forum, I mean.
Off the top of my head - 3 additions:
- Quicksilver
- Audio Mirror
- Lampizator (kit)
Unfortunately BAT's current offerings start at $7k.
A BAT VK-5i will set you back maybe $2.5K and it sounds as good as the current offerings...maybe better.
I found the 5i soft and rolled off compared to other Bat preamps. YMMV.
As I said below, I find that 3 year S'phile policy flawed, to put it mildly.
Dunno about you, but I wouldn't call preamps costing between, say, 3-6 thousand bucks "budget". They are basically non-existent as far as S'phile's list is concerned. IMO its pretty damn strange that products from companies you mentioned and others that cost less than $7,500 are omitted.
I would not necessarily call them "budget," which is why I believe I used the characterization "more budget." My only point was that I too have wondered why Stereophile does not consistently review as many pre-amps in the lower price points compared to other components.
"I agree that in comparison with the other components, budget oriented pre-amps seem to get short shrift in Stereophile"
Perhaps so, Jim. But the chief complaint of the op is that there aren't more affordable/budget preamps in "Class A," which is a different matter. For whatever reason, he appears fixated on "Class A" (but balks at the price of admission).
No, my post is not supposed to be primarily about Class A at all. The point is that there is damn near nothing *other than* Class A that's recommended. Two Class B Parasound SS pre's and two Class D $49 passives - that's it!
Edits: 03/23/15
of any system, thou shall buy only Class A.
Cheers
Bill
I think you're onto something there. I can't think of any preamp <$3K that I would want. If you're an audiophile and a $3-5K preamp is out of your budget, you should rather get the best integrated you can afford (that's what I did). I 'spose a passive preamp would be the other low budget option.
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