Need cheap Pre-amp

[silverdot1211]

I am finally finishing my Tubelab SE with 300B tubes (about 2 years since I started it) and am looking at either the Marantz NR1403 or the USP-1. I really like the digital inputs on the Marantz (I do a lot of Pandora, Spotify, and windows media player) but the price is looking better on the USP. I currently use my computer for the content and use an optical cable to my HT setup. When I am doing my day to day stuff I have a Sony receiver and a pair of HKB4's with a 8in Yamaha sub doing the majority of the work. I am thinking of making the tube amp a stand alone system buried in my HT setup.

I was debating about the XDA-1 but I am not sure if I can get by with out at least one analog in and the USB cable will have to run 30ft. Haven't really looked into it but I think 16ft is the max a USB can run...

Just looking for peoples thoughts or insight.

Thanks!

[garbulky]

The USP-1 is quite a nice pre-amp and surprisingly helped my two channel performance. But it's not the last word in transparency (though it still is pretty good in that area).

[pdaddy]

DC-1 has likely all the digital inputs you need and has one analog input, but perhaps not "cheap" enough for you.

[silverdot1211]

you said it diddy! usp-1 is at the very top of the budget. XDA-1 would be awesome but I need at least 1 analog....and now we are back to stealth DC-1 that would be perfect and fit my needs and I failed to look at until you mentioned it. Dang I hate being poor....anybody want a cat or a parrot? jk!