Help: I'm surprised I can't find what I want....

[JustJones]

Sounds like you want a preamp

BasX PT1 Stereo Preamplifier/DAC/Tuner

BasX PT1 stereo preamp with pure-analog inputs, USB DAC, Bluetooth aptX HD, and FM tuner. MM/MC phono, headphone out, 2.1 sub out, 3-year warranty.

emotiva.com

On sale $99

Rockville PPA53 Preamp Studio Recording Pre-Amplifier w/Bluetooth+USB Interface

Buy the top audio gear manufacturer direct - All purchases have a 90 day money back guarantee including return shipping

www.rockvilleaudio.com

 

[trevor_bartram]

How about a classic Adcom preamp with remote to match your poweramp.
I see GTP-500 for close to $100 on the Bay and local auctions.
Unfortunately, the recent crop if high SINAD devices often lack realistic I/O capability, main-out muting. Adcom even have a tuner.

I looked at Rotel, NAD & Adcom preamps on Ebay but only the Rotel has a remote & it's an auction that are notorious difficult/expensive to win. NAD is expensive on Ebay & Adcom preamps left a lot to be sonically desired (many old opamps).

 

[trevor_bartram]

Sounds like you want a preamp

BasX PT1 Stereo Preamplifier/DAC/Tuner

BasX PT1 stereo preamp with pure-analog inputs, USB DAC, Bluetooth aptX HD, and FM tuner. MM/MC phono, headphone out, 2.1 sub out, 3-year warranty.

emotiva.com

On sale $99

Rockville PPA53 Preamp Studio Recording Pre-Amplifier w/Bluetooth+USB Interface

Buy the top audio gear manufacturer direct - All purchases have a 90 day money back guarantee including return shipping

www.rockvilleaudio.com

The PT1 is $399 unless you know different? The PPA53 has no remote (essential), is available under other brand names & the circuit provenance is unknown!

 

[JustJones]

I never saw a budget but if it's under $399 for everything you want then yes, I can see why you can't find what you want and I'm not surprised. Good luck

 

[Timcognito]

Seems like there are a lot of good ideas but cost is the big issue. Curious, what are the devices that require RCA in?

 

[trevor_bartram]

It seems I've found a hole in the Topping/SMSL/Fosi/Fiio/Douk/iiFi portfolios?

 

[trevor_bartram]

Seems like there are a lot of good ideas but cost is the big issue. Curious, what are the devices that require RCA in?

Panasonic DVDA player, Schiit Modi 3 (I use both opt & coax inputs).

 

[trevor_bartram]

Schiit Kara seems to meet requirements, but probably a little over budget.

Way over budget.

 

[Timcognito]

Panasonic DVDA player, Schiit Modi 3 (I use both opt & coax inputs).

You want to run a DAC into a DAC many of the proposed devices have a very good DAC onboard. You won't need the Modi 3. Maybe I'm missing something

 

[trevor_bartram]

You want to run a DAC into a DAC many of the proposed devices have a very good DAC onboard. You won't need the Modi 3. Maybe I'm missing something

I want to run a player & a DAC into preamp, with optional headphone-amp & essential remote control.

 

[tccalvin]

Topping E30/L30 stack...? Specifically for the features, can't vouch for the quality (although I've read positive comments here on ASR).

But I'm guessing you already have a DAC since you're looking for a standalone amp/pre...

 

[Timcognito]

Dump the Modi and use this $169 on Amazon

Loxjie D30 Review (DAC & Headphone Amp)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the new revision of the Loxjie D30 stereo DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $260 on Amazon including Prime shipping. The main stand-out feature as far as looks is the better home screen graphics than sister...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[trevor_bartram]

Almost there:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256804210580331.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.7efahFgThFgTVF

However this will only work if the 10K potentiometer version is available (I'd have to check?) because of cable & power amp input capacitance.

A version of this preamp was sold on Amz in the past. There are also kits available (no chassis) so it seems popular.

Has anyone purchased one & can comment?

 

[Timcognito]

Almost there:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256804210580331.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.7efahFgThFgTVF

However this will only work if the 10K potentiometer version is available (I'd have to check?) because of cable & power amp input capacitance.

A version of this preamp was sold on Amz in the past. There are also kits available (no chassis) so it seems popular.

Has anyone purchased one & can comment?

No test data. Headphone jack?

 

[trevor_bartram]

No test data. Headphone jack?

This is a passive preamp, no data required. I already have the parts to add a headphone output to the Adcom amp.

 

[Timcognito]

You could probably get $50 for the Modi on ebay. With a full color display, Amirs review, tested HP amp, Bluetooth and all these features inside and on the remote, I would go with the $169 Loxjie. But its your stuff good luck. Over and out.

LOXJIE AUDIO Official-LOXJIE音频官网

DAC,AMP,Headphone AMP,

www.loxjie-audio.com

 

[Brian Hall]

That's an interesting choice, though I'm not sure it meets the OP's needs because they seem to want a preamp they can feed into their Adcom power amp, and I don't see any pre-out or line-out jacks on that Loxjie A40 - only speaker terminals.

Also, it does have two single-ended inputs but one of them is a phono input, so whether this unit has the multiple inputs the OP wants depends on whether one of the OP's source devices is a turntable.

Why not skip the Adcom amp and just use the A40 for everything?

 

[trevor_bartram]

Why not skip the Adcom amp and just use the A40 for everything?

I listened to an SMSL AO300 (similar to A40) for two weeks & found it inferior to my Panasonic DVDA player & Modi 3, so I returned it. A NAD C-316BEE V2 is the best option but I like a challenge & thought this was going to be relatively easy, turns out not.

 

[JeremyFife]

To go balanced>unbalanced?
No.

Thanks

 

[Mort]

found it inferior

How? That's a great device that tested well.

Maybe this is easier to solve than it seems.