[Nathan Ivey]

Just thought I would give everyone a chance to plug there dream pre-amp.


I always enjoy reading post about " wish I had the ..... "

So what would you vote for? If It's a toss up b/t two or three list em all!


Here are mine:


The new Theta CasaBlanca 2

The Meridian 861

The new Mark Levinson HT pre-amp looks bad *** (don't know if it has good bass mgmt though)


So what do you want the pre-amp Giver to drop in your audio rack?


Thought it would be fun to post something like this B/C everyone has that pre-amp they will always wonder about!


Thanks


Nathan

 

[Bob Sorel]

Woodman, remember me from another thread? You suggested the RX-V1 when I was looking for separates to upgrade my system. Well, I bought the Yammy and I'm glad I did! This thing rocks, but if money were no object, I probably would have opted for the Lexicon MC-1 (for $6000 list), as it was the most versatile unit for home theater. Pair that up with an Earthquake 5 channel power amp (for $4000 list) and you have one great system. The Yamaha gets the "best buy" award hands down though, since I picked it up for $2349. Nothing at that price can touch it!

 

[Andy Lammer]

I am an EAD man !

I currently have an EAD TheaterMaster Ovation, but lust after a Signature. Phenominal 2-channel, awesome HT, and tremendous sex appeal.

It makes me happy just sitting there on my rack.

( I could never get aroused looking at a Lexicon - sorry )


- Andy

 

[Don O’Brien]

Meridian 861 with a full digital speaker array.

Andy,

I was under the impression my lexicon worked best when I was listening to it (just kidding).

Don O

 

[migliore]

If I went for a no compromise prepro, it'd be the $30k Boulder Amp model. I'm a believer than it will blow the doors off everything when released.

http://www.boulderamp.com/bldramp.productpreveiw.html


Given real world money, it all stops at the EAD Signature, for $6k.


Rob


------------------
Migliore Theater

 

[Greg_R]

I'd have the person give me the most expensive one. I'd sell that, then get a nice projector, pre/pro and amp.


Greg

 

[Rick]

Krell HTS, it is a killer !!!!!

-rick

 

[Mark Hunter]

The Lex. MC-1 was the "real-world" dream I had (still within the range of possibilities). After some intense research, I realized that the RX-V1 was an incredible buy, and brought one home!


6 days later (after more research and listening), I brought the RX-V1 back and PERMANENTLY installed the Onkyo DS-989. I loved the Onkyo's 24/96 on all 7 channels, and the RS232 upgradability. The Yammy has a rev. to go before they get there.


Dream: Lex. MC-1

Dream Come True: Onkyo DS-989

 

[Nathan Ivey]

Wish I could have the Levinson also!


The very best were talking here!


Lexicon shouldn't be in the running unless you've been misguided.


It's no secret about the weakness of the Lex in Stereo!


Top Processor's:


# 5 Meridian 861

# 2 Theta CasaBlanca 2

# 1 New Mark Levinson

# 4 Ead Signature

# 3 Classe SSP 75


Lexicon is weak!

 

[PF]

No question, the new Levinson, when it's available. That's some tricky piece.


But for now, since music is most important to me, I'd take a Levinson 32 at $14K or $15K (it makes previous, very good Levinson preamps sound broken) and connect a Lexicon processor via the bypass mode.

 

[rich wu]

Add one more ML Ref 32 for me. I heard a demo of it a few months ago with dCS D/A, Wilson speakers and Linn monoblocks and it was pretty imprssive.

RW

 

[Mark]

Just to add my two cents, my choice would be the Jeff Rowland Coherence II preamp.

 

[jackson]

Put me down for SPECTRAL, SPECTRAL, SPECTRAL! Sorry, got carried away. Had the DMC 6, seems like a lifetime ago. Their top to bottom end preamps are quick, dynamic, and quiet.


Jack

 

[PF]

I love the Spectral DMC20 and the Rowland Coherence, also. But the Spectral locks you into buying the entire Spectral system and wires (or they void the warranty) and seems to require lots of room treatment to get it to sound just right. Still, there's a good reason why David Wilson still uses a DMA90 when voicing his speakers.


The Rowland's a great, great piece, too. I've heard it and the Synergy many times and if I were buying their super tricky new amps, I'd get it, too.


But the new Levinson Ref 32, in the context of a Levinson system, and perhaps a few others, is an order of magnitude better than anything I've previously heard or owned from them. When you hear it, you'll know immediately that it is a reference piece.


As for the Lexicon, I've heard it has deficiencies as a music processor. But I'd be only using it via the ML 32 in bypass mode as a surround sound processor for movies. Used that way, it's performance is top notch.