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Tell me your best preamp

So what your repuirement for a preamplifier is multi inputs and outputs, and a remote control to control the volume conveniently?

No other features do you need? Such as tone controls, dsp and Room correction?

It is used for my office system. EQ for tone controls. No DSP. No room correction.

Preamp inputs:

1. Schiit Lokius EQ RCA outs
2, Recording studio equipment mixer RCA outs
3, Sony 4k blueray player RCA outs
4. Eversolo DMP-A6 RCA outs.
5. Extra input for my DAP or phone.

My main desktop system is an Asus Chromebox going to the Schiit Modius DAC (USB).
I can also use the Eversolo going through a Schiit Modius (coax) -> Schiit Lokius EQ -> Schiit Midgard.

Preamp outputs:

1. Fosi ZA3 amp going to speakers by the recording studio setup.
2. Fosi ZA3 amp going to speakers by my screen and the other components.

The Schiit Saga S preamp does just what I wanted.
 
Except for pro audio products, balanced i/o wasn't really a thing during the Great Age of Full-Featured Preamplifiers, which in my memory, reached it's zenith by the mid-1980s, if not earlier. But we can add balanced outputs via an inexpensive outboard device based on the Texas Instruments DRV134 balanced audio driver IC! In this manner, it's possible to have your MM/MC phono, headphone jack, tone controls, and tape loop (can also be used for DSP!) and balanced outputs too.

This DIY product from Hypex looks like a decent modern product, though when/if official expansion modules will be offered by Hypex is unknown.

As for tuners, I loved the McIntosh MR71 when I had it, but the other week, I scored a first-generation Sangean HD tuner for $12, and impression so far is that the plastic-y Sangean is the superior performer. And unlike the Sony XDR-F1HD, it has a battery backup. I also have a prewar "Malahit" DIY software-defined radio in my project queue, but that's a 'nother topic.
 
Except for pro audio products, balanced i/o wasn't really a thing during the Great Age of Full-Featured Preamplifiers, which in my memory, reached it's zenith by the mid-1980s, if not earlier. But we can add balanced outputs via an inexpensive outboard device based on the Texas Instruments DRV134 balanced audio driver IC! In this manner, it's possible to have your MM/MC phono, headphone jack, tone controls, and tape loop (can also be used for DSP!) and balanced outputs too.

This DIY product from Hypex looks like a decent modern product, though when/if official expansion modules will be offered by Hypex is unknown.

As for tuners, I loved the McIntosh MR71 when I had it, but the other week, I scored a first-generation Sangean HD tuner for $12, and impression so far is that the plastic-y Sangean is the superior performer. And unlike the Sony XDR-F1HD, it has a battery backup. I also have a prewar "Malahit" DIY software-defined radio in my project queue, but that's a 'nother topic.
I've written my requirements for a preamp before. I'm old-school and my system shows it--my reasons for being old-school bring together a range of influences. One is that if reasonably selected, the old stuff is more than good enough to exceed my (probably limited) ability to hear defects. Another is that it is usually a good value. Still another is that I define the hobby much as I did 40+ years ago, and rather like complicated systems with a wide diversity of hardware that comes and goes as part of the hobby. I'm no minimalist.

One aspect of that is I like to explore obsolete source technologies that by any measure are poor enough to justify the effort required to get the most out of them. There's simply no fun in buying a transparent streamer, DAC, a headphone amp, and 47 pairs of headphones, as I sense is a more popular approach these days.

But a range of obsolete technologies means needing a range of inputs to be managed and a range of processing options to get the most out of them. Thus, a useful preamp for me must include a range of inputs (the more the better), at least including a phono input, and line inputs for a tuner and a couple of CD players. And I would like three tape loops--computer (through an ADC for the recording side and a DAC for the playback side), cassette deck (because shut up that's why), and an open-reel deck. And, because I believe in proper room correction, I need a processor loop, in which I use a Yamaha YDP2006 digital parametric equalizer which could someday become a MiniDSP device. For outputs, I would like a line-level output upstream from the volume control (for a headphone amp), and a preamp output to a power amplifier (balanced if possible).

And, of course, I need tone controls, because I sometimes want to fiddle with spectral tilt to make what I'm listening to sound better as a matter of targeting rather than correction. And I would want them to be fully bypassed when they are not needed.

The phono amp needs to have adjustable cartridge loading, but supporting moving-magnet cartridges is good enough for me. I'm not willing to spend what it takes to make moving-coil cartridges work well.

Nice to have, given my very powerful amplifier, is a way to bypass the line-stage amplifier. When I'm listening to the radio softly at night, I bypass the line amp just to give myself more volume-knob range.

A remote would be nice, but that bridges generations in ways that make the solution space even more nonexistent.

No preamp I know of fulfills all those requirements, but I've gotten close enough at present with a B&K Sonata MC-101 and a dbx 400 tape-loop expansion system. The phono has user-serviceable insertion points for capacitors and resistors to tune the input loading. It has a two tape loops and a (bypassable) processor loop, and I use the dbx 400 to expand one of the tape loops to provide three additional tape loops, plus a line-level output from the record bus (not volume-controlled) for an external headphone amp. These were available with balanced outputs, but mine doesn't have it and I've implemented that using a balanced-output amplifier.

An Apt Holman would also do what I want, and I may try one if I find one at a good price when I'm in the mood.

I figure the SINAD for all of this is around 90, which is good enough for me, even if the downstream amp provide 25 dB of gain.

The one requirement that this system abundantly fulfills is that nobody I know will even know where to start to turn it on and make it work.

Rick "like a truck with an unsynchronized, dual-range 12-speed manual-shift transmission" Denney
 
The Topping has a digital volume control. I would never connect that directly to a Poweramp. If that thing ever glitches out you get 100% volume.
I use a -10db fixed attenuator (between DAC and amps) so even if the DAC and the Wiim glitch to full output volume to the speakers would likely not be fatal. And I don't see both units glitching simultaneously. The DAC can sit at full output while the Wiim mostly lives at around 85-90 on its volume adjustmenr..
 
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Thanks @Joe Smith. I should have precised that I am running balanced connections. That being said, looking in the "pre-amp" list of Schiit, the first viable option would then be the Schiit Kara? Quite a step up.

Having something as simple as the Schiit Sys, but then with Balanced connections would be perfect, it should be completely passive, so I doesn't require a trigger in- and output. Luminous Audio has some interesting passive equipment no measurements on their Axiom II that I could find, but it being passive, it really shouldn't add any noise/distoring - right?

If you just need the volume control, then why not get a volume control instead of a preamp.
 
I use a Palmer Monicon. It offers both balanced and unbalanced IO, the knob feels pleasant and it is well built. The mute and mono functions are also quite convenient.
I cant image in which scenario you would use the mono mode, and in mono mode, how do you deal with the stereo signals?
 
Along with cheap Class D monoblock amps, my number one audio wish is for a new, high value preamp to be offered that has either built-in phono or a slot for a phono card to be added. I kind of can't believe that Schiit hasn't gone there, with all the new products they continue to develop. I've almost bought their Saga S a bunch of times, but keep waiting to see if they will debut one with phono capability.

Is there any currently made full-size stereo preamp below $500 that has a phono pre?

(I keep my old NAD 1020 and Nikko Beta 20 units around to use when I need this in one of my setups, but they have not been restored and I'm sure the sound quality takes a bit of a hit from the vintage kit being in the chain.)
What do you mean by full-size? Is the Saga S full-size?
 
What do you mean by full-size? Is the Saga S full-size?
Yeah, sorry, I was a little vague there. I guess I mean from "Saga size" all the way up to old "standard width" component size. The only one I have found that's low cost and current make is the Emotiva preamp, it's decent but I worry a bit about so many functions crammed into one interior PCB.

My perfect unit would be the Saga S but with a phono pre included or with an optional add on slot...
 
I cant image in which scenario you would use the mono mode, and in mono mode, how do you deal with the stereo signals?
It sums the left and right channels, which can be useful for quite a broad range of scenarios. Perhaps you are watching one of far too many YouTube videos with audio on only one side or you might want to verify the position of your phantom center (LR gains).
 
Yeah, sorry, I was a little vague there. I guess I mean from "Saga size" all the way up to old "standard width" component size. The only one I have found that's low cost and current make is the Emotiva preamp, it's decent but I worry a bit about so many functions crammed into one interior PCB.

My perfect unit would be the Saga S but with a phono pre included or with an optional add on slot...
I think the old "standard width" is 430mm, the Saga S is still smaller.
 
It sums the left and right channels, which can be useful for quite a broad range of scenarios. Perhaps you are watching one of far too many YouTube videos with audio on only one side or you might want to verify the position of your phantom center (LR gains).
I dont understand, you watch more than one Youtube videos at the same time and just one channel for all the audios?
 
I dont understand, you watch more than one Youtube videos at the same time and just one channel for all the audios?
The mono function takes both audio channels, sums them and routes that mono sum to both speakers.
 
So is it like a mixer? But wouldnt it be messy if you sums audio from different videos?
I am referring to the playback of only one video at a time. There are certain videos on YouTube wherein only the left or right channel plays audio. The mono function on this controller combines both the left and right channels, which enables that singular channel of audio to play from both speakers.

There are other scenarios in which this function becomes helpful; this is only one example.
 
I am referring to the playback of only one video at a time. There are certain videos on YouTube wherein only the left or right channel plays audio. The mono function on this controller combines both the left and right channels, which enables that singular channel of audio to play from both speakers.

There are other scenarios in which this function becomes helpful; this is only one example.
Thank you, I have never encountered such videos on Youtube.
 
Streamers and DACs and even preamps with digital volume controls have been around since forever, not sure I've ever heard of one glitching. And if you worry, simply always turn on the preamp first and poweramp second.
My WiiM ultra glitched twice running an Emotiva xpa-2 Gen 2. Had a ringing in my ear for 2 days. Sent the Ultra back promptly
 
My WiiM ultra glitched twice running an Emotiva xpa-2 Gen 2. Had a ringing in my ear for 2 days. Sent the Ultra back promptly
Glitched, meaning full volume output?
 
Onkyo P-3090

Phantastic phono stage, 2 phono :) inputs, which can be both MM or MC (not independently) - Runner up: Perreaux SA-33
 

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