[chapmar]

I'm shopping around for used preamps in the $100-300 range. I'll be using the preamp with my Carver tfm-15cb and Polk RT10s for strictly stereo listening. Video switching would be nice (although not required), but it must have a remote


I've made a list of preamps that I am considering and these consist of both stereo and surround preamps. I need some advice on which of these preamps (surround or not) will perform best in stereo mode. Does the fact that a preamp has dolby pro-logic processing mean that the stereo sound is compromised? I know that some of these surround preamps have stereo/source direct setting.


And if you have other suggestions that I've not listed here, please feel free to throw in your two cents.


Here's the list:


Parasound P/SP 1000 preamp-processor (dolby pro-logic)

NAD 917 Preamp (dolby pro-logic)

Rotel RTC series (with remote)

Rotel RSP-960Ax (dolby pro-logic)

Carver C/CT Series with remote (any favorites here...or ones to avoid)

Adcom GTP 450-500 II (I've read several poor reviews of these)

B&K AVP1000

B&K AVP2000

Acurus ACT-1 (review indicate it is difficult to operate)


Thanks very much for your time,

Chapman

 

[John151]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chapmar Does the fact that a preamp has dolby pro-logic processing mean that the stereo sound is compromised?

Yes!


Go here for good advice on 2 channel listening: http://www.audiocircle.com

 

[whoaru99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chapmar I'm shopping around for used preamps in the $100-300 range. I'll be using the preamp with my Carver tfm-15cb and Polk RT10s for strictly stereo listening. Video switching would be nice (although not required), but it must have a remote I've made a list of preamps that I am considering and these consist of both stereo and surround preamps. I need some advice on which of these preamps (surround or not) will perform best in stereo mode. Does the fact that a preamp has dolby pro-logic processing mean that the stereo sound is compromised? I know that some of these surround preamps have stereo/source direct setting. And if you have other suggestions that I've not listed here, please feel free to throw in your two cents. Here's the list: Parasound P/SP 1000 preamp-processor (dolby pro-logic) NAD 917 Preamp (dolby pro-logic) Rotel RTC series (with remote) Rotel RSP-960Ax (dolby pro-logic) Carver C/CT Series with remote (any favorites here...or ones to avoid) Adcom GTP 450-500 II (I've read several poor reviews of these) B&K AVP1000 B&K AVP2000 Acurus ACT-1 (review indicate it is difficult to operate) Thanks very much for your time, Chapman

Why even spend that kind of money on Pro-Logic? While it is surround sound, it is essentially ancient technology WAY outclassed by Pro-Logic II and even more so by Dolby Digital and DTS.


If you are looking for a decent 2-ch only preamp that you can easily get in that price range (or even less) consider something from Yamaha such as the C-80.


There are other versions earlier and later that are decent too such as the C-70, C-85, CX-1, CX-2, C-60, C-65, C-40, C-50, C-45, etc. Generally, lower numbers in the C series are either earlier versions or lesser features or both. The exception comes to the CX series; those are newer than the C series.

 

[chapmar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoaru99 Why even spend that kind of money on Pro-Logic? While it is surround sound, it is essentially ancient technology WAY outclassed by Pro-Logic II and even more so by Dolby Digital and DTS.

I'm not going to use the Pro-Logic. It just seems that a lot of the preamps (w/ remotes) that I'm seeing in my price range are pro-logic equipped units. I guess they're more plentiful for the brands I'm interested in (Rotel, Parasound NAD). So, I wanted to get a feel for whether any of these units have a solid stereo capability. Thanks, I'll check out the Yamaha units!

 

[whoaru99]

Missed the part about the remote. Don't believe any of the Yamahas I've listed have remote. The newer CX series might, but I don't think so.


If you can get by without a remote check them out. I use the Yammy C-80 pre-amp with a Mark Levinson No. 23 power amp and Paradigm Studio 100 speakers. Certainly not a top-of-the-line audiophile setup, but it's a very nice sounding combination.

 

[lulimet]

i have a rotel rsp-960ax that i use in my bedroom for music only and it is a very good unit.It also has a remote.They sell for 130-150$ on ebay and i see them there pretty often.