which pre

[Colinx]

Although I appear to be in a flat solid state minority, I hope the membership can nudge me in the right direction in my quest for a replqacement pre-amp.

I am currently using a Rega Cursa/exon set up, and although will keep the Cursa, would like to try a more open sounding in pre in front. I have had the use (short term) of a croft built box (vitale or viagra or some such) and although it did some of the sonic things I would like to have, and did show that the exon's can live with a much better pre, it also had some little foibles that although I could live with, the rest of the family could not. Little sillies, such as having two gain knobs rather than 1 etc.

What pre amps, up to say £1500 (new or used) should I be looking around for. I want something that lets a bit more soundstage through, but does not take away Rega's basic ''play the bloody music'' attitude. I don't much care if its valve or SS, but would prefer it not to have a Naim in the name. I suppose what I really want is Rega to build a better pre. In fact a pre built to match the new phono stage would be spot on.

[Mike]

Phew... £1500 should give you a pretty wide range of options, especially in the used market!

Where do we start?

Might help if you gave some idea's about what sort of sound you're looking for and what facilities you need.

[scoobs]

I would suggest sampling an NVA rig...AP80a integrated, or pre /power. Whatever folk say about the ol' muppet, his amps are bloody good, you simply won't find better SS at the price...IMO.

[Colinx]

I am currently using a modified Rega P25, Denon DL110 or 103 cart, Rega phone stages (mm built into cursa) or MC phone stage, Cursa 3 pre, pair of exon monoblocks, Rega Saturn, and Radio 3, Spendor S5e speakers, strung together with Chord Cobra I/C's and Van Damme speaker cables (10 metre runs) .

With the exception of the deck and the pre I am more than happy with the systems at the moment, the deck will have stay for a while, I know what I want, but until I have 3K to spare the 25 will do.

The Cursa is not a bad pre, but I am aware of its shortcomings, I want to keep the basics that the Cursa has, good drive, evan handed, it is I suppose to some people a 'thin & stripped down' sound, which I suppose could be a fair description, but it suits us, and the system has a good balance at the moment. I suppose what I want is more of the same, a Cursa on steroids. Just a touch more soundstage width and depth, a little more space around instruments.

I have tried and was not particularly impressed by Linn, Naim, Ayre, Copland, Prima Lunar and Quad, either as pairs with their own power amps, or in front of other power amps, (few places have exons kicking around). Not impressed by is the wrong phrase, Yes they were good, and in some cases very good, and I can understand why they are chosen, but if they had the air and space, then they seemed a tad polite, if they had the balls, then they lacked the other stuff.
It could well be that my dealer is right, and I am just one of those people who latch onto what Rega does, and nothing else will do it, and I will just have to wait for the signature series to include a pre (if it ever does- speculation on his part)

The croft was probably the nearest to the sound, certainly sorted the sound stage thing, but as a practical piece of kit to be used by a family it smacked of being a bit hair shirt.

[Mike]

Hmm... well I have an idea. Are you in a hurry?

[Colinx]

No, not really

[Mike]

OK, I've got one in mind that might be a bit 'left field'. I'm flitting in and out doing a BBQ at the moment, so I'll explain a bit later if that's OK?

(Sorry, gone a bit 'Marco' there!)

Cheers,
Mike.

[Colinx]

Not at all, I'm in between various meal bits and pieces myself, (who made fish bones that small?)

[Neil McCauley]

........... would like to try a more open sounding in pre in front. What pre amps, up to say £1500 (new or used) should I be looking around for. I want something that lets a bit more soundstage through, but does not take away Rega's basic ''play the bloody music'' attitude.

Based on the above, then from the vintage era, I suggest the Audio Research SP11. In terms of spaciousness, and I base my suggestion on direct personal experience rather than hearsay, this specific model is a, if not the reference standard - even today. Bass is a bit soggy though. This should fit within your budget.

Guideline prices for used Audio Research can be seen here:

http://prices.listencarefully.co.uk/

As an aside, and out of your current budget, my personal choice, from today's market, in the LFD LineStage3 - as this has the fastest, most coherent and credible bass performance I've yet encountered. However, it isn't as spacious at the old SP11.

In the pursuit of a unit that may, just may combine the attributes of both, I'm considering a Manley Neo-Classic 300B valve pre.

---//---

[Colinx]

Thanks for that, would it matter which of the variants of SP11?, it appears there are 3, a SP11, SP11 revised, and Mk II.

Just to show how technically inept I can be, having tracked down the odd photograph of the SP11, it seems that the pre takes it power feed from the power, I assume this can be replaced by some kind of power supply?