My Soundcfraftman preamp/eq just bit it. No output. Since it's 26 years old, I don't think it's worth dropping 2 or 3 hundred bucks to repair. So I'm shopping around for a decent new or used preamp. Straight wire is fine. The simpler the better. I would like a phono section on it, but not nessesary, since my TT is on my bedroom system.

Any suggestions for a modestly priced, bit decent sounding peamp?

Thanks for any replys.

Hafler DH-101 - for around $100 you can get a pretty good pre-amp on the 'bay.

For cheap you'd be better off looking for a local deal rather then hunting for a specific preamp. My Yamaha C-80 is a great example since I found it cheap and it was an easy fix.

I have enjoyed my Adcom GTP-500 II in the short time that I have had it. Generally the Adcom's GTP-500 II can be had for between $120-150 depending on the condition. Also the GFP-555 and 565 are supposedly good preamps for the money, and the command a little more $200+. They are simple and on mine you can bypass all the tone controls if you want.

TC

Are you sure it would cost that much to repair the Soundcraftsmen? In my experience, they are well laid-out and fairly easy to work on. It might not cost as much as you think, and they are well-made high-quality units, worth repairing most of the time. If you decide not to repair it, please consider offering to any local AKers who may wish to fix it up ("rescue" it), rather than just dump it.

Kenwood C2? I'm not sure if it'd be on the same level as the Soundcraftsmen, but it'd be inexpensive, and I've heard good things.

Are you sure it would cost that much to repair the Soundcraftsmen? In my experience, they are well laid-out and fairly easy to work on. It might not cost as much as you think, and they are well-made high-quality units, worth repairing most of the time. If you decide not to repair it, please consider offering to any local AKers who may wish to fix it up ("rescue" it), rather than just dump it.

This brings up a great point. Spending the money to go over what you have could be cheaper in the long run. You can get it straighten out and you will know the condition it is in. Whatever you buy could need work the next day. Every older piece of gear I have has need some type of service.

I recently ebay'd a Kenwood Basic C2 preamp to inexpensively pull together a second system I was assembling and was VERY pleasantly surprised at how good a preamp it is. The phono stage is especially good and will take both MM and MC cartridges directly. We had quite a conversation about inexpensive preamps in another thread with lots of folks sharing info on some other real good choices. Here is a link to that thread. http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=161925 I think it's worth taking a look at. :D