2ch Pre-Amp to match w/1095 amp

[karnaaj]

Looking for a nice pre-amp (under $2500) to go with my new 1095. Needs to have HT bypass. Speakers are B&W 704's. System seems a little bright so was thinking of a tube pre to mellow things out a bit. Source is a sony dvd player which is next on my list for replacement.

[gianni]

If you reconsider and will look at SS, take a look at the Primare Pre 30. Just picked one up. Still working on setting it up. Build quality is fantastic, very flexible, and it has HT bypass.

[bung99]

If you reconsider and will look at SS, take a look at the Primare Pre 30. Just picked one up. Still working on setting it up. Build quality is fantastic, very flexible, and it has HT bypass.

I will second that had my Pre 30 since November. I had it into my 1095 for 3mths but now have gone to a dedicated stereo setup as well so I got the Primare P32 power amp for the Stereo fronts.
The Pre 30 made a major difference to the Stereo (Rotel CD) system with to 1095 Just So Clear & great image but the P32 even improved on that.

[gd]

Tubes w/ HT bypass, huh?... not too many out there...

Modwright: http://www.modwright.com/products/in...?product_id=20
Rogue: http://www.rogueaudio.com/

I've no experience with either, but both are well-regarded, esp the Modwright.

[karnaaj]

Yea, that modwright unit has got to be the hottest item on A'gon right now. Seems that they sell within hours of being posted. Kind of an "industrial" look to it.

[Bluespower]

I've been using a ModWright with my 1068/1095 for the last year and have been quite pleased with the results driving my 804s. It's wonderful having a 2-channel rig (primary listening) that you can morph into a surround system with the flip of a switch.

I think this set-up is going to hold me until the next/final upgrade (Mac) several years down the road.

[srb]

I've not heard it or seen it in person yet, but Cary Audio Design has a new vacuum tube preamplifier, the SLP 03.

http://www.caryaudio.com/products/classic/SLP03.html

It has HT bypass and full remote control for volume, input selection and channel balance

The retail is $2500.00

[pbarata]

I'm in a similar situation, I want' to improve stereo performance for my Rotel combo build with RCD-1070, RSP-1066 and RMB-1075.

I had before a Classé CAP-101 integrated amplifier with Classé CDP-10 CD player, but I was never able to integrate in my surround system.

For that I'm thinking to integrate a stereo dedicated pre amp or integrated amp, with HT bypass feature (which would allow me to use either de power stage in the stereo or the pre-amplifier section with unit gain, with volume control done by the surround processor RSP-1066).

Unfortunately none of the pre amps and integrated amps from Rotel has an HT bypass feature (not even the brand new RC-1082). So I'm considering Krell KAV-400xi or Krell KAV-280p (2nd hand market). Don't know which other options in the marked represent a real improvement over RSP-1066? :huh:

I started first auditions with Krell KAV-280p pre-amplifier. But quickly I went up to the conclusion that for a real stereo improvement, the integrated Krell KAV-400xi would be the best (not only the pre amp section is quite good, but also it does a good match with the power stage).

I've tried a passive pre amplifer from CIAudio with good results (http://www.ciaudio.com/plc1.html), but it was relatively expensive ($900). :E

[karnaaj]

I have heard opinions that the Krell "house sound" tends to be somewhat bright. True or not?

[gianni]

Unfortunately none of the pre amps and integrated amps from Rotel has an HT bypass feature (not even the brand new RC-1082). So I'm considering Krell KAV-400xi or Krell KAV-280p (2nd hand market). Don't know which other options in the marked represent a real improvement over RSP-1066? :huh:

:E

Oops - never mind I see you tried a CIAudio pre.

[pbarata]

For sure that CIAudio passive pre, was a real improvement over the noise RSP-1066. But after auditioning the Krell KAV-400xi I've found that its internal power stages can supplant RMB-1075 in dynamics, bass control and detail.