Home stereo preamp advice

[Richard Seiferd]

I have an outboard phono preamp for my turntable and an analog tube processor for my CD transport. I need a stereo preamplifier, with or without tuner, that will let me use my existing equipment and still give me the ability to switch between input modes, change volume etc. I would like to stay under $500 and certainly don't mind older equipment if it provides quality. This is a stereo system only.

Thanks for reading

Existing equipment
Audio-Technica AT LP-120 Turntable with Schitt Mani phono preamp
California Audio Labs CD transport and analog tube processor
Parasound 2200ii amplifier
Carver Silver speakers

 

[lovinthehd]

All you need is two analog inputs? What is an analog tube processor?

 

[Richard Seiferd]

I thought that might be the case. On older preamps there are sometimes tape loops. Couldn't those be used? I am having a difficult time finding preamps with 2 aux ports. Do you have any suggestions of good clean sounding preamps? California Audio Labs refers to their digital processors as analog tube processors. Thanks for your heip.

 

[lovinthehd]

Can't think of any that are going to be $500 or less new off the top of my head, may need to look at the used market. Maybe an Outlaw Audio 975 for a bit more? Parasound 2100?

My old 2ch pre-amps (an Adcom and a Carver) do have tape monitor loops to insert eq or other similar processors but if I understand what your CAL unit is, it's an external dac of some sort that outputs in analog format? Unless you have a graphic eq or a miniDSP to insert, probably don't need the tape loops/external processor loop, just normal analog inputs for your sources.

 

[KEW]

One of the least expensive options that I would consider good quality would be a Yamaha R-S700 receiver with pre-amp outputs.
$500 from Amazon or $380 from Accessories4less for Yamaha refurbished units.
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S700BL-Natural-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B0044779G8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496677309&sr=8-1&keywords=r-s700
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamrs700bl/yamaha-r-s700-2-ch-x-100-watts-natural-sound-stereo-receiver-bose-901-comp/1.html

The current market for inexpensive pre-amps is so poor that it is often less expensive to buy a receiver with pre-amp outputs (even if you never use the amp section)! Two channel pre-amps don't really come into their own until you have a bigger budget. If you have $1000 to spend on amp and pre, combining them into a receiver is going to offer more for less.

PS: The R-S700 does have a tape loop if you need it.