Newbie saying hello...Pre-amp question.

Hi.
I'm a lurker who's decided to join, i'm also a regular "viewer" on Vinyl Engine.
My kit is eclectic and probably ill matched, due mostly to divorce and theft :-(

Avid Diva Turntable, Origin Live Encounter II arm, Ortofon Kontrapunkt C M/C.
Whest Audio PS.20 Phono stage & Power supply.
Musical Fidelity A3.5 CD
Alchemist Audio Forseti APD21A Mk II Pre and Alchemist Audio Forseti Tim de Paravicini Signature Power amp.
2 x PrimaLuna ProLogue Six Monoblock valve power amps.
ATC SCM 40 speakers.
Grado RS1 H/phones & RA1 9v battery H/phone amp.
Van den Hul & Origin Live interconnects, Chord Odyssey 2 speaker cable.
2 x Townshend Audio Seismic sinks.

My question is, having recently suffered a leg injury, i was pondering a pre amp with a remote volume control, transistor not tube.
Are there any decent ones out there or do we frown on remotes

 

Hi,

How do you want to spend? New or 2nd hand?

One that may suit is a Michell Orca. This is a fine looking and fine sounding pre with remote control.

There is one in the classified section.

https://www.audio-forums.com/as-rediect/showthread.php?t=16909

It's not mine and I don't know the person selling it. Worth a look.

SCIDB

 

try the bel canto pre3, as with the preamp that preceeded it its one of the most "invisible" preamps ive ever not heard, if that makes sense.

In a system that had a dac with volume control, it was impossible to tell the difference between the direct DAC connection and placing the preamp into the circuit. I dont think there can be a much higher recommendation than that. It simply passes the signal on with a bit of a boost in gain.

remote control comes as standard with gorgeous fit and finish and a good variety of inputs both balanced and single ended.

 

It's strange,

different systems work best with different pre amps. I demo'd a Music First pre and a Bel Canto pre2 with the big active ATC stystem and the Bel Canto won easily.

A few months later i demo'd the same two pre amp with a small active ATC system and the Music First pre was a lot better. I would not have thought that would be the case from my last experience.

So what i'm trying to say is that there are a lot of pre amps around and its a matter of trial and error. Make a short list (which this thread may give you) and get a friendly dealer to demo them for you.

I hope this is of Help?

 

Sorry to hear about your leg - Hi Fi Addict is right - Its got to be trial and error. It impossible to say what will work best in your system, in your room, for you, with the music you listen to. What I can do is tell you my experience. I no longer dem items in shops
and choose equipment by reading info on forums and hunting out secondhand - If I dont like it I sell it on. Though this may take longer to do I think this is a cheap and effective method of upgrading.

Having a remote control isnt a factor quality wise except for the fact that it limits preamp choice


This is my experiece - In my system a Opera consonance passive TVC and a Audio Synthesis Veshay passive was a far better match than a Audio Research SP11 valve pre - I ended up Plumbing for a £175 Prometheus TVC passive Pre. It was cheap and certainly very close in quality and compatablity to the Opera unit. I never even bothered seriously looking into an active transistor preamp because after hearing lots and lots of them in the past Im not a great fan. There may be some good transistor pres out there but I havent found a cheap one that is transparent enough.

If a remote control is a must then on your shortlist should be a.
BEL Canto Pre 3. However TVC preamps have quite a big following nowadays I think for very good reason. If your power amp has a suitable input sensitivity I think you should at least try one.



Andy

 

Thanks, I'll certainly do some internet trawling on those suggestions.
P_C.