Which has the best preamp section?

[hopjohn]

<font color='#000000'>I'm trying to find the cleanest preamp I can get on a receiver with the latest bells and whistles at $1500 msrp or less. Not concerned at all about the amp section, since I'll be using seperate amps...and of course the receiver will need 7.1 preouts. Also it doesn't have to be a reciever if value can be found in a stand alone.

What brands consistently do the best job in this area?

I'm considering Yamaha, Denon, H/K, Outlaw, B&amp;K in no particular order.

....and Zumbo, save your breath, I know what your vote will be.

Your help appreciated.</font>

 

[zumbo]

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[annunaki]

<font color='#000000'>If you will consider NAD, the have the T163 preamplifier. I have installed one for a customer and it is quite a nice unit. It is a great front end piece that will work with virtually any amplifier, and it is quite easy to use. At 15 pounds it is a beast of a preamp. http://www.nadelectronics.com/ht_amplifiers/T163_framset.htm &nbsp;Check the link for specifications

Also, check into Adcom for decent surround pre amps under $1500.

I would not waste $1500 on a receiver to use it as a preamp. A separate preamp will most likely sound better as it will be better shielded and larger higher quality parts can be used through out.

Others to look at would be Rotel, possibly a used Lexicon (drool), Outlaw, a used Arcam, or Audio Refinement.

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[Rob Babcock]

<font color='#8D38C9'>Sherwood has a mind blowing new prepro out for an MSRP or $1499. &nbsp;It has just about every feature you could imagine and I've been told it does a fantastic job of 2 ch stereo (for any flat-earthers who still care about that sort of thing...

kidding!).

Still, the new Denon AVR-3805 will just about do everything there is for a few hundred bucks less. &nbsp;The amps would be wasted if you use it as a pre-pro, but who knows when you might want to use it as a receiver.</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>The b&amp;k unit is a great value IMO, that is if its still $1000 off msrp. It is truly a solid piece. &nbsp;

http://www.bkcomp.com/ref50.asp

I also second the notion to check out rotel and perhaps a used Lexicon (minus the THX version). &nbsp;

best,</font>

 

[Rob Babcock]

<font color='#8D38C9'>If the ceiling is $1.5K, I don't recall ever seeing the Ref 50 for anywhere near that. &nbsp;Would be a helluva deal, though, if you could. &nbsp;The Rotel is reputed to be pretty nice, but I think it's a tad short of inputs (particularly digital inputs) for a unit of that price. &nbsp;It all depends on what you're going to be connecting, though. &nbsp;My HT rig needs digital inputs for at least 1 DVD, 1 CD player, Xbox &amp; PS2, and an extra input for DBS/DSS wouldn't be bad. &nbsp;That would do until the next round of game consoles comes out!</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>My bad! &nbsp;However, if its msrp is $3000 and it is going for $2000 at the moment, that isn't too much more than the $1500 ceiling I didn't notice the first go-around.

best,</font>

 

[zipper]

<font color='#000000'>I've heard good things about the B&amp;K units. Don't have one so I can't speak from experience but have heard the processors are as good or better than most.</font>

 

[hopjohn]

<font color='#000000'>Just wanted to thank everyone for their input. It was very helpful. As of now, I'm leaning toward the Outlaw 950 preamp. It has a lot of bang for the buck at $800. I can't justify the extra $700 dollars for the minimal improvement in quality I might receive from something at $1500. The money I save could go a long way toward a new sub, or sofa.</font>

 

[Rob Babcock]

<font color='#8D38C9'>The Outlaw's getting pretty long in the tooth. &nbsp;It sure doesn't have &quot;all the bells &amp; whistles.&quot; &nbsp;It's a bit short on inputs and lacks PLIIx (although that may not matter at all). &nbsp;Also, in the DAC dept it falls a bit short of the latest &amp; greatest in the newer units.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the Outlaw, and certainly for $800 it's got no competition. &nbsp;I just wonder when they're coming out with a replacement that's a little more up to date technically.</font>

 

[hopjohn]

<font color='#000000'>Yep it's a little older, but far from obsolete. I don't think it's replacement is yet in the works, but I'll be keeping and ear to the ground for any new info on it. I'm subscribed to their newsletter so hopefully next time around they'll mention something on it.</font>