Big and heavy, affordable vintage preamp?

[th0m]

While I couldn't be more happy with my recently purchased miniDSP SHD, it's not very exciting to look at. So, I was thinking about maybe getting some vintage preamp for volume control and hide away the SHD in a cabinet.

I would like something big and beautiful, with a vault-like feel, with balanced inputs and a nice silvery finish, preferably for under ~$500/€500. Is there such a thing? Any suggestions?

 

[eddantes]

Yeah... thats a tall ask that is not very likely to happen... You'll need to choose...

• vintage, big, heavy, beautiful
• balanced ins
• $500

Balanced inputs are not common, usually restricted to pro gear (thus forget beautiful) or high end (thus forget $500) and if you want "vintage", as in 70s-80s then you are really looking for a unicorn.

Also - it will degrade your signal, almoste suredly it will. So with that last bit in mind, I suggest you forget balanced and just focus on vintage, big, silver and $500.

An old Spec 1 or Kenwood 700 would meet the criteria - but more likely at $1000...

You might find an old Mark Levinson or Bryston with balanced INs - but they ugli

Perhaps an old collectible Luxman or Sony - like a TA-E80ES - but those are as rare as hens teeth!

Yeah - you have an impossible ask.

 

[th0m]

Yeah, you're probably right. Balanced inputs seem somewhat more common in 90's gear, but the really cool ones are more expensive than what I'm prepared to spend on something just for the look and feel. Would really love to have something like a Sony TA-ER1 or Marantz SC-5 though.

 

[Gorgonzola]

You couldn't go far wrong with a McIntosh solid state or tube preamp. The s/s are likely to be a bit cheaper than the tube. The Macs tend to have balanced inputs and outputs going back as far back as the C41. Personally I'd love a C42 or later.

Yes, they are well above your budget but you'll get most or all of what you paid back if you resell.

C42:

 

[th0m]

You couldn't go far wrong with a McIntosh solid state or tube preamp. The s/s are likely to be a bit cheaper than the tube. The Macs tend to have balanced inputs and outputs going back as far back as the C41. Personally I'd love a C42 or later.

Yes, they are well above your budget but you'll get most or all of what you paid back if you resell.

C42:

Thanks, but the whole point of this is to get something that looks nice, and the McIntosh design isn't for me. Much prefer Japanese hifi in general.

 

[Robin L]

Yeah... thats a tall ask that is not very likely to happen... You'll need to choose...

• vintage, big, heavy, beautiful
• balanced ins
• $500

Balanced inputs are not common, usually restricted to pro gear (thus forget beautiful) or high end (thus forget $500) and if you want "vintage", as in 70s-80s then you are really looking for a unicorn.

Also - it will degrade your signal, almoste suredly it will. So with that last bit in mind, I suggest you forget balanced and just focus on vintage, big, silver and $500.

An old Spec 1 or Kenwood 700 would meet the criteria - but more likely at $1000...

View attachment 178193
View attachment 178194

You might find an old Mark Levinson or Bryston with balanced INs - but they ugli

View attachment 178195

Perhaps an old collectible Luxman or Sony - like a TA-E80ES - but those are as rare as hens teeth!

Yeah - you have an impossible ask.

Beware of vintage gear with lots of toggle switches. They wear out and can cause all sorts of hard to fix problems.

 

[mhardy6647]

Big? Check
Heavy? Check
Affordable? Check*
Preamp? Check**

I use is as an active preamp/source selector more than occasionally -- also as a two channel receiver.





(ignore the T-7 tuner -- it was just visitin' the day I took these photos)
_____________________
* Found it at the dump.
** If one pulls out the jumpers between the preamp and power amp sections.

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

I always liked the look and feel of my Luxman C-1000. No balanced I/O back then, though. Sold it years ago.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Classe Audio Model Thirty (30) Stereo Line Preamplifier Classic Audiophile | eBay

<p>Classe Audio Model Thirty (30) Stereo Line Preamplifier Classic Audiophile. Tested Working.</p><br /><p>- A very nice Classe Audio preamp with phono stage. The sound is smooth and it's built to last forever.</p>

www.ebay.com

Right at your budget price too.

Classe' 30 preamp.

 

[mhardy6647]

I always liked the look and feel of my Luxman C-1000. No balanced I/O back then, though. Sold it years ago.

View attachment 178285

Quite a nice preamp, as its price then -- and prices on the used market now -- testify to.

 

[Gorgonzola]

Thanks, but the whole point of this is to get something that looks nice, and the McIntosh design isn't for me. Much prefer Japanese hifi in general.

That's fair. Not everybody like the McIntosh look. However your judgement that Macs don't look "nice" isn't shared by everyone.

How about this Technics SU-C5000?

 

[DanielT]

Of course the world's best-selling amplifier. Run it as pre amp.

Okay, it's not particularly beautiful, heavy or expensive, but still. It's a fu**** funny little racer.

NAD 3020 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

NAD 3020 Stereo Integrated Amplifier Manual | HiFi Engine

www.hifiengine.com

 

[mhardy6647]

Of course the world's best-selling amplifier. Run it as pre amp.

Okay, it's not particularly beautiful, heavy or expensive, but still. It's a fu**** funny little racer.

View attachment 178458

NAD 3020 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

NAD 3020 Stereo Integrated Amplifier Manual | HiFi Engine

www.hifiengine.com

No balanced I/O.

 

[DanielT]

No balanced I/O.

Right, that was a requirement, missed it.

 

[mhardy6647]

Right, that was a requirement, missed it.

as did I, initially.
very few balanced components here (except a few pro/quasi-pro pieces) so it's not an arena to which I bring much expertise.

 

[DanielT]

as did I, initially.
very few balanced components here (except a few pro/quasi-pro pieces) so it's not an arena to which I bring much expertise.

Neither do I.

Pro, PA balanced vintage pre amp?

I absolutely nothing about such but it might be an option? Comparatively at home hifi vintage, they are probably not that good-looking. Or, what do I know.

Typically, just like when I came across one that I think has a nice vintage look, which has pre out.

Harman Kardon 330 AM/FM Stereo Solid State Receiver Manual | HiFi Engine

www.hifiengine.com

 

[Tryphon]

Quite a nice preamp, as its price then -- and prices on the used market now -- testify to.

I always liked the look and feel of my Luxman C-1000. No balanced I/O back then, though. Sold it years ago.

View attachment 178285

A classic from the late Tim de Paravicini. So nice...

 

[mhardy6647]

Neither do I.

Pro, PA balanced vintage pre amp?

I absolutely nothing about such but it might be an option? Comparatively at home hifi vintage, they are probably not that good-looking. Or, what do I know.

Typically, just like when I came across one that I think has a nice vintage look, which has pre out.

View attachment 178466

View attachment 178467

Harman Kardon 330 AM/FM Stereo Solid State Receiver Manual | HiFi Engine

www.hifiengine.com

Doesn't have to be pro, just offer balanced I and/or O, for the OP's spec, methinks.
Here's a piece of non-pro gear, not particularly modern, with at least balanced outputs, e.g.,

Bryston BDA-1 DAC

 

[mhardy6647]

A classic from the late Tim de Paravicini. So nice...

 

[th0m]

That's fair. Not everybody like the McIntosh look. However your judgement that Macs don't look "nice" isn't shared by everyone.

How about this Technics SU-C5000?

I understand that of course. It's simply my own particular taste. Meant no disrespect to Mac fans

Have actually been looking at the C5000 (and C7000) already. Like them a lot. Might be a candidate, but still more money than what I'd hoped to spend. Very much in line with what I'm after though.

Edit: No balanced input on the C5000, but the C3000 and C7000 seem to have it.