Anthem Preamp Dilemma

zgeneral said:

Amplification below clipping and volume equalized sounds the same. You're just looking for a pre-amp that you like. That a pre-amp has video processing doesn't mean that the audio only listening is going to sound worse. It's generally cheaper to build a pre that does everything on a mass scale instead of a niche product that includes just 2 channel. That cheaper is even when you include all of the extra components.

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Thank you for your feedback. Every brand of audio equipment has their own distinct sonic character. Depending on the speakers used, some brands of equipment mate better than others. All I am requesting is if a forum member has heard the Anthem P2 amp with a specific preamp and they liked what they heard, please pass the information on. As the end customer, I will have to determine is the sound meets with my approval or not. I have spoken to the Product Manager at Anthem and yes, according to how the D2V 3D or AVM 50v 3D is designed, the sound emanating from their 2 channel analog section is not affected by the video sections, but it does not make financial sense to pay for a lot of extras if I am not going to use any of them. $9500 or $6500 is a lot of money to pay for a preamp/processor when all I am concerned with is the audio section. Also, are you aware that the analog section in these 2 pieces of equipment have not changed in over 10+ years? There are other brands of 2 channel preamps that will provide equal or better sound within the same price range or less. While I am not limited to purchase within the city where I live, recommended preamps would at least give me an idea where I need to travel in order to demo the equipment.

mvp47 said:

I am putting a new 2 channel system together utilizing the Paradigm S8v3 speakers and Anthem Statement P2 amp. While I am open to different brands of solid state electronics, I was hoping to try and match a suitable 2 channel preamp with this Anthem Amp. I tried corresponding with Paradigm/Anthem via telephone and e-mail and came away empty handed. My A/V dealer does not specialize in 2 channel systems and they have been of little help. I want to investigate different brands of preamps prior to getting in my car and traveling to the various dealers. I am not interested in Anthem's AV pre-amp/processors as I do not need their video processing capabilities. I would like to achieve an open, articulate, non-colored sound. If there are any readers of this post that have direct experience with the Anthem P2 amp, I would like to receive your opinions as to which brands of 2 channel pre-amps I should consider.

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I'm a fan of Mark Levinson preamps, but not the prices new. I've used both the 380 and the 320s Levinson's that I purchased on Audiogon. Specifically to your question, I've used the 320s to drive two of the channels from an Anthem P5, which given the architecture of the P2 and P5 is really the same a driving a P2. I used Revel Salon2's for speakers. The combination is excellent. I'm into clean, undistorted sound.

The 320s can be set at 0dB gain, a nice feature of Levinson preamps, for lowest noise and easily drive the P2 using the balanced input at the -6dB setting, again for lowest noise. Both components are of course intrinsically very low noise and low distortion. Stereophile has a review, with measurements, of the 326s online. The 326s has a better circuit board material for the main board, otherwise they are the same, including an excellent volume control. I'd go for either unit. 380's and 380s' are of course available used as well. I liked the 380, but I have no experience using it with a P2. The 320X's are newer and I would prefer them.