2-Channel Preamp suggestions under $500

[jhob]

Just picked up an unbelievable deal on a pair of B & W CM8 S2's, and thinking about putting one of the spare bedrooms to use as a two channel listening room. Any recommendations on a good preamp under $500? 

[sahmen]

On the emo front:

USP-1
Sherbourn Pre-1

[vneal]

What source will you use. Maybe the best preamp is no preamp

[jhob]

Jun 21, 2015 18:53:44 GMT -5 vneal said:

What source will you use. Maybe the best preamp is no preamp

I hadn't figured that part out yet. You're suggesting that I could hook the amp directly to the source, such as the ERC-3?

[clearear]

The DC-1 makes a nice preamp.

[novisnick]

You may be able to find an XSP-1 gen one for that price-point.
Or go for a Sherbourn Pre-1 which is very! Very good. Has tone control and you can do bass management with it. Very nice piece.

If your going with digital source as well, the DC-1 is real nice but redundant with the ERC-3. If your going with PC and digital mostly,,,,,then yes. Personally the ERC-3 and DC-1 is redundant though. And the Father of them both will agree with me.

[jhob]

Jun 21, 2015 19:49:19 GMT -5 novisnick said:

You may be able to find an XSP-1 gen one for that price-point.
Or go for a Sherbourn Pre-1 which is very! Very good. Has tone control and you can do bass management with it. Very nice piece.

If your going with digital source as well, the DC-1 is real nice but redundant with the ERC-3. If your going with PC and digital mostly,,,,,then yes. Personally the ERC-3 and DC-1 is redundant though. And the Father of them both will agree with me.

I agree... I mostly listen to CDs, or stream music. So I think the ERC-3 would be a better fit for me. Could I use the control freak to control the volume between it, and my amp(s)? Might be tempted to go monoblocks with this set up. 

[guzz46]

Jun 21, 2015 21:28:14 GMT -5 jhob said:

Jun 21, 2015 19:49:19 GMT -5 novisnick said:

You may be able to find an XSP-1 gen one for that price-point.
Or go for a Sherbourn Pre-1 which is very! Very good. Has tone control and you can do bass management with it. Very nice piece.

If your going with digital source as well, the DC-1 is real nice but redundant with the ERC-3. If your going with PC and digital mostly,,,,,then yes. Personally the ERC-3 and DC-1 is redundant though. And the Father of them both will agree with me.

I agree... I mostly listen to CDs, or stream music. So I think the ERC-3 would be a better fit for me. Could I use the control freak to control the volume between it, and my amp(s)? Might be tempted to go monoblocks with this set up. 

Have you considered the PC > Dac route? that would give you the option of high res 24bit music too.

[knucklehead]

Parasound 2100 gets some good reviews. I nearly bought one several times before buying a used gen 2 XSP-1. I doubt there is any difference between the gen 1 and 2 other than the cosmetic face lift to match the XMC-1. The 2100 has HT bypass and bass management similar to the XSP-1 which allow you to feed the mains a full range signal. The XSP-1 is two steps up from the USP-1. I owned 2 of them over the years and while they have excellent sound if you need to use the HT bypass function you cannot feed the main speakers a full spectrum audio signal. I don't know whether it was on purpose or a mistake on the designer's part but using the HT bypass throttles the mains to 50hz crossover - necessitating use of a sub. The Sherbourn Pre-1 has the same limitation IIRC. If you have bookshelf speakers that would not be a problem since you would likely use a sub. The XSP-1 and the Parasound 2100 do not have that limitation. You can find a new 2100 at Amazon - used ones show up on ebay from time to time.

I agree with Nick - even going a bit over your budget would be worthwhile.

[novisnick]

I looked up the speakers,,,,,very nice indeed!!
So I'm thinking you won't need bass management for two channel.
This being strictly a two channel set up I'd look at the DC-1 and a little lessor CD player, maybe a CD-1 or ERC-2, they are excellent units at a great price-point and will serve you well. The DC-1 sounds better IMHO then the ERC-3, twice the DACs just implemented a little different but to me,,,,,," more bedda"!

You mentioned that you stream music,,,,,from what source? This matters.
Let us know.

[creimes]

I would also go with a DC-1, allows for multiple sources and sounds great, I did see a ERC-2 for sale on here recently as well for $200 that you could connect to a DC-1 via Balanced AES/EBU cable, and also use a PC or media streamer as another source to the DC-1 as well.

Chad

[novisnick]

Jun 21, 2015 23:13:29 GMT -5 creimes said:

I would also go with a DC-1, allows for multiple sources and sounds great, I did see a ERC-2 for sale on here recently as well for $200 that you could connect to a DC-1 via Balanced AES/EBU cable, and also use a PC or media streamer as another source to the DC-1 as well.

Chad

Tell him Chad! ERC-2 is a great CD player, coupled with the DC-1 and multiple other sources is a real winner!!  

[jhob]

Jun 21, 2015 22:41:38 GMT -5 knucklehead said:

Parasound 2100 gets some good reviews. I nearly bought one several times before buying a used gen 2 XSP-1. I doubt there is any difference between the gen 1 and 2 other than the cosmetic face lift to match the XMC-1. The 2100 has HT bypass and bass management similar to the XSP-1 which allow you to feed the mains a full range signal. The XSP-1 is two steps up from the USP-1. I owned 2 of them over the years and while they have excellent sound if you need to use the HT bypass function you cannot feed the main speakers a full spectrum audio signal. I don't know whether it was on purpose or a mistake on the designer's part but using the HT bypass throttles the mains to 50hz crossover - necessitating use of a sub. The Sherbourn Pre-1 has the same limitation IIRC. If you have bookshelf speakers that would not be a problem since you would likely use a sub. The XSP-1 and the Parasound 2100 do not have that limitation. You can find a new 2100 at Amazon - used ones show up on ebay from time to time.

I agree with Nick - even going a bit over your budget would be worthwhile.

Thanks for the heads up on the parasound, I'll definitely check it out. 

[jhob]

Jun 21, 2015 22:55:44 GMT -5 novisnick said:

I looked up the speakers,,,,,very nice indeed!!
So I'm thinking you won't need bass management for two channel.
This being strictly a two channel set up I'd look at the DC-1 and a little lessor CD player, maybe a CD-1 or ERC-2, they are excellent units at a great price-point and will serve you well. The DC-1 sounds better IMHO then the ERC-3, twice the DACs just implemented a little different but to me,,,,,," more bedda"!

You mentioned that you stream music,,,,,from what source? This matters.
Let us know.

Usually it's off of the Roku. I have been looking into tidal, but I just don't know if it's worth the money. 

[jhob]

Jun 21, 2015 23:13:29 GMT -5 creimes said:

I would also go with a DC-1, allows for multiple sources and sounds great, I did see a ERC-2 for sale on here recently as well for $200 that you could connect to a DC-1 via Balanced AES/EBU cable, and also use a PC or media streamer as another source to the DC-1 as well.

Chad

Thanks for this tidbit. Definitely something for me to consider. 

Also, I saw you just had a baby. Congratulations!

[jhob]

If the prices were about the same, do you guys think I'd be better off with a XSP-1 Gen 1 or a new DC-1?

[wizardofoz]

Dc 1 is more flexible for digital options and you could always add one analogue source into the DC-1 or even get the soon to be available SP-1 ($299 IIRC) that has 3 analogue inputs plus a built in xsp-1 phono pre

[garbulky]

Jun 22, 2015 1:02:42 GMT -5 jhob said:

If the prices were about the same, do you guys think I'd be better off with a XSP-1 Gen 1 or a new DC-1?

I've tried both an XSP-1 gen 2 (not gen 1) and a DC-1.
If you've never heard an XSP-1 then I think a DC-1 will do great. Having said that an XSP-1 is something very special. It does MUSIC. The DC-1 is more like a straight wire with gain but in terms of music quality it's not an XSP-1. I know that's confusing but for the extra money the XSP-1 is fantastic but not necessarly double the sound quality of a DC-1.
However if your setup isn't the most resolving thing - for instance if it is a near field setup then I wouldn't go splurging on an XSP-1.
So something tells me with your budget you are not looking for a $1000 volume control right? Well in that case let me be more helpful and tell you what a DC-1 can bring to the table.
1. Your treble will not be attenuated. It will have more than enough treble extension.
2. You will not experience the "electronicy" sound of some pre-amp sound signature.
3. You won't say anything got "lost" in the path through the DC-1. The analog pass through is not a add on thrown in. It is a well though analog passthrough. For instance through a slightly better DAC than the DC-1 I have heard slightly better detail through the analog passthrough than its own DAC. Now note that's not saying the DAC isn't good. Just that the analog preamp isn't a throw away feature.

If you haven't heard better....then you won't have heard better than a DC-1.
Some DAC to direct to amps will not perform as good as using the DC-1 as a pre-amp. For instance using that same DAC I said was slightly better didnt sound quite as good as I recall going direct to the preamp while the DC-1 performed better.

In case you don't know you can also use a passive pre-amp like Emotiva's control freak (and also the schitts sys preamp). Neither have remotes for their volume controls but it is technically a volume control and the huge advantage is it is much cheaper. The passive pre-amp I've used did change the sound signature (slightly less treble, a bit more lower mid bass) but it was very musical. An "analog sound" if you may.

Another good option is to try a tube buffer. For instance the YAQIN CD-3 ($250) and the XDA-2 is an AMAZING pairing. I wouldn't reccomend it for more resolving DACs but dang it sounds good Instruments and vocals pop on it. Definitely a 3d sound. If you ever imagined what tubes can do....well this is pretty much what you get. It also provides the dynamics missing in DAC direct to amp setups. My wife found it more appealing than the DC-1. It gets close to the musicality of an XSP-1 with just a little bit of electronic shenanigan in the treble. But I can't understate how close it got! Me I preferred the DC-1's additional resolution and less shenanigans in the treble in my setup. But with an XDA-2 I really doubt you can do better for the price. If you have a line level only source like a CD player you'll have to still buy a passive preamp to adjust the volume though.

[sweetsdream]

I just setup a 2 channel system in my home office. I have an iMac USB to DC-1 to Airmotiv 4s and an old Polk sub I had laying around. I also have a Sonos Connect into the DC-1 since I have Sonos in every room in the house. It works and sounds great.

[jhob]

Jun 22, 2015 3:43:44 GMT -5 garbulky said:

Jun 22, 2015 1:02:42 GMT -5 jhob said:

If the prices were about the same, do you guys think I'd be better off with a XSP-1 Gen 1 or a new DC-1?

I've tried both an XSP-1 gen 2 (not gen 1) and a DC-1.
If you've never heard an XSP-1 then I think a DC-1 will do great. Having said that an XSP-1 is something very special. It does MUSIC. The DC-1 is more like a straight wire with gain but in terms of music quality it's not an XSP-1. I know that's confusing but for the extra money the XSP-1 is fantastic but not necessarly double the sound quality of a DC-1.
However if your setup isn't the most resolving thing - for instance if it is a near field setup then I wouldn't go splurging on an XSP-1.
So something tells me with your budget you are not looking for a $1000 volume control right? Well in that case let me be more helpful and tell you what a DC-1 can bring to the table.
1. Your treble will not be attenuated. It will have more than enough treble extension.
2. You will not experience the "electronicy" sound of some pre-amp sound signature.
3. You won't say anything got "lost" in the path through the DC-1. The analog pass through is not a add on thrown in. It is a well though analog passthrough. For instance through a slightly better DAC than the DC-1 I have heard slightly better detail through the analog passthrough than its own DAC. Now note that's not saying the DAC isn't good. Just that the analog preamp isn't a throw away feature.

If you haven't heard better....then you won't have heard better than a DC-1.
Some DAC to direct to amps will not perform as good as using the DC-1 as a pre-amp. For instance using that same DAC I said was slightly better didnt sound quite as good as I recall going direct to the preamp while the DC-1 performed better.

In case you don't know you can also use a passive pre-amp like Emotiva's control freak (and also the schitts sys preamp). Neither have remotes for their volume controls but it is technically a volume control and the huge advantage is it is much cheaper. The passive pre-amp I've used did change the sound signature (slightly less treble, a bit more lower mid bass) but it was very musical. An "analog sound" if you may.

Another good option is to try a tube buffer. For instance the YAQIN CD-3 ($250) and the XDA-2 is an AMAZING pairing. I wouldn't reccomend it for more resolving DACs but dang it sounds good Instruments and vocals pop on it. Definitely a 3d sound. If you ever imagined what tubes can do....well this is pretty much what you get. It also provides the dynamics missing in DAC direct to amp setups. My wife found it more appealing than the DC-1. It gets close to the musicality of an XSP-1 with just a little bit of electronic shenanigan in the treble. But I can't understate how close it got! Me I preferred the DC-1's additional resolution and less shenanigans in the treble in my setup. But with an XDA-2 I really doubt you can do better for the price. If you have a line level only source like a CD player you'll have to still buy a passive preamp to adjust the volume though.

This is really informative. Thank you so much!! I did a little research on that Yaqin CD-3, and it is intriguing. I hooked the B&W's up to my XMC-1/XPA-2 and I do think I would enjoy listening more if I had a sub. With that being said, I don't know that I really listened long enough to make a decision on that, and with some tweaking and dialing in, I may not. 

I am starting to think I should save up a little more and maybe go for the XSP-1. I definitely don't want to have regrets in a few months, and have to start over.