As I get closer to getting my Hafler DH-200 worked out...I have decided that my Tascam M30 mixer will not work for my preamping needs....do therein lies the reason for this thread.

After doing a lot of reading, a lot of asking, and a lot of thinking...I have a few choices.

1) Hafler DH-101
2) Yamaha C-65 or equiv.
3) Onkyo P-306RS
4) Kenwood Basic C2
5) Sony TA-2000F (if I can get one cheaply).
6) NAD something?
7) suggest one?

What do you all think is the best preamp in that price range? (not asking value, just in that general area).

I am looking for (in order):
a) a stellar phono section, the more versatile the better.
b) good performance (IE, not adding or subtracting anything to the signal)
c) as many tape loops as possible
d) as many line inputs as possible
e) defeatable tone controls

Maybe I am still in honeymoon phase, but I am very happy with the recently acquired Harman Kardon Citation Seventeen S, hooked into a Sansui AU-717. A very nice warm and detailed combo.

7. Gas

I just bought an SAE Two PA10 for less than a hundred bucks, it's got two phono inputs (one MM and MC) two aux inputs, two tape loops and an ext. prosessor loop that can be switched from line/off/tape, plus bass, midrange and treble controls with a tone defeat switch, it has everything I was looking for in a preamp, it's a solid unit, I really like it.

I am looking for (in order):
a) a stellar phono section, the more versatile the better.
b) good performance (IE, not adding or subtracting anything to the signal)
c) as many tape loops as possible
d) as many line inputs as possible
e) defeatable tone controls

The Crown DL-2 is the one that meets your criteria except price. 3 tape loops, a processor loop, and all line level inputs as the phono amps were separate units. No adding or subtracting, just very clean sound. Tone controls have three turnover frequency selection for bass, midrange and treble. And if you miss the mixing ability, it has that too.

Of the ones you have suggested, I don't see one that would not be a nice addition, but the build quality of the Hafler and NAD may not be up to the level of the others. Some of the switches of the Hafler did not have the best tactile feel and I've read that although NAD sounds good they are not as well made as other units.

What do you all think is the best preamp in that price range?

I am looking for (in order):
a) a stellar phono section, the more versatile the better.
b) good performance (IE, not adding or subtracting anything to the signal)
c) as many tape loops as possible
d) as many line inputs as possible
e) defeatable tone controls


one preamp comes to mind that fits all of your criteria: Yamaha C-6

NAD Monitor Series 1000

What about the onkyo?

That has lotsa inputs, a nice looking phono stage, and a couple of tape loops?

Hafler DH-110. Much better sound than 101. Very high phone overload. Two phono inputs. Two tape loops and EPL loop. Defeatable tone controls. Looks a lot better than 101. Sounds better than 101. I have both. The 110 is my spare emergency pre. The 101 is in a closet collecting dust, it's NMR.

Yamaha C-65 out of those. :yes:

I just bought an SAE Two PA10 for less than a hundred bucks, it's got two phono inputs (one MM and MC) two aux inputs, two tape loops and an ext. prosessor loop that can be switched from line/off/tape, plus bass, midrange and treble controls with a tone defeat switch, it has everything I was looking for in a preamp, it's a solid unit, I really like it.

I've got the same SAE TWO PA10 myself. A fellow at work is getting ready to retire overseas and he gave me one (he had 2 of them). Very nice unit and works with my LM 7480 gainclone rather well. I believe it's a keeper.

Best Regards,
TerryO

While I'm not sure how many tape loops the Yammie has I can tell you I was very impressed with the phono section and general transparent nature of my C-40. As far as suggestions go the Adcom GFP 555II is another clean pre. It also offers regular and 'direct' outputs that work i nthe same vein as a 'bypass' control. The phono section is also nothing to sneeze at.

Go with a Hafler to keep it in the family.

I have a denon that I have become pretty fond of!

NAD Monitor series...a step up in build from the 3020 era and still has the NAD phono stage. Or..Technics SU-9070...three tape loops, THREE phono inputs(one MC, two MM) and two line in, plus a processor loop...no tone controls at all (they want you to use and EQ in the loop)

-SPW

I just got a Sony TA-2000F from JohnVF. It's a very nice full function preamp with MC cartridge capability. Very clean and detailed sounding and just seems to get out of the way of the music. Defeatable tone controls and lots of tape inputs. It even has a mic input.

One other you may want to consider is a B&K Pro10MC. It's very quiet and has a pretty darn good phono stage. It's a two-box design with outboard power supply. MC capable also. No tone controls but I think it has only one tape input. A VCR input could be used for tape as well. It has a front panel tape selector to select the input you tape. Also a passive setting.

Good luck whatever you decide.

David, what about an Adcom GTP-500 II? It has 2 tape loops and 2 sets of outputs and a pretty decent MM phono stage. I paid $110 for mine and it is in great shape. Is that out of your price range?

Don't know if the Onkyo you are considering is the P360 or the 306, or if I just have the numbers wrong, but the one I have has an unusally adaptable phono section -- couple of capacitances for MM and I think three loads for MC including HO, which can have a significant effect on how they sound.

David:

Just so you know how the matched set will look...

BlueShadow is correct - the push-button switches on the Hafler leave something to be desired from the tactile perspective (they work fine but feel cheap). On the flip side, I have never had a problem with mine since I built it 29 years ago. It is the only pre-amp I have owned so I cannot compare it to anything else, but it works for me.

Any of the Onkyo Integra preamps will fit the bill. Great Phono section, great sound, and plenty of inputs, defeatable tone controls. Just make sure it says Integra on it. Oh, and I agree that the NAD Monitor series is a good value. I have a 1700 that is very nice, even has a good tuner in it to boot.

Kenwood Basic C2. Four line-level inputs, one phono input, and two tape loops. The phono section has two MM and three MC settings. Tone controls are defeatable. It is a wonderful preamp that I would use again in a heartbeat.

Hafler DH-110
Apt Holman 1

I am using a minty Kenwood Basic C2 and it has everything I need in my system. I'm also using a Proton AP-1000 preamp to adjust the volume on my sub. The Proton has a sub out and the Kenny does not. My sources are plugged into the Kenwood and the output is split to the power amp and the Proton. The Proton is being used as a passive pre to only adjust the volume of the sub or bypass it altogether. The Basic C2 are fairly abundant and inexpensive on ebay.

I don"t know if you have or use an EQ but the SAE PA10 has Bass,Mid and Treble controls for EACH channel, two tape loops, two aux inputs, a possessor loop, Tuner input, Two phono inputs, One of which is MC or MM, The other
is MM only but has a pot for input resistance from 20K to 100K ohms and three (I think) PF settings, 100pf, 200pf and 400pf. I've seen these go for well under $100.
Good bang for the buck.

Steve

Adcom GFP-565 has everything you want, plus a very respectable headphone section. Phono section is MM only, but a very good one.

Forte Model 2 does what the GFP-565 does, but even better. It does not even have tone controls but has a MM/MC phono section with user-adjustable gain and cartridge loading, plus it was designed by Nelson Pass.

I see a lot of people chiming in for the Kenwood C-2, but in a head-to-head comparison with my Nikko beta 40, the kenwood ended up in my closet, and the beta-40 is in my main system. Fantastic phono stage, amazing sound quality, and a second set of pre-outs made a sub hookup easy!
Check out Nikko too!

I am kinda wavering between a Denon PRA-1000, the Onkyo P-306RS, and a Yamaha C-70...

Are they all about the same, or are there any standout features that make one better than all the others? yet again, I am open to other suggestions...

I use the Kenwood C-2 because I owned one when they came out new in the early 80's. Ended up loosing that system in a divorce, but about two year ago I got a steal of a deal combo with an M1d and a C-2. It does have all the inputs you are looking for, tone turnovers, three filters, and a pretty good tape loop that will accomodate 2 decks, two AUX inputs, Tuner, CD and a TTable input that allows you to choose from MM or MC.

One thing that I wish it had was an additional output!!! I don't use a sub with this system, but it would be nice to have the option without using a splitter. Also the inputs are not gold.

All in all, it is everything I need in a preamp. There are many good ones out there at reasonable prices. I prefer to stick with the same brand for estetics, but many go strictly for performance. The choice is yours. I am sure you will be happy with any of the ones on your list. I would be.

B'roo

you can also look into getting a dbx 200 or 400 "route selector". This allows you to take up a single tape loop and then within the unit itself, attach several more outboard items that you might want. I have a 400 and though it has a power cord, the ONLY purpose for the power is to let the lights show. You can unplug the unit and it will work 100% fine so it won't be mucking around with your signal.

Fairly inexpensive too

bump on opinions of those 3 preamps.....I am pretty much going for one of those unless I can find a steal on something else.

I have been using a c-65 for the past week and I am very impressed by the phono stage. Cableguy gave me a bit of advice on those yamaha pre's and I am glad I listened to him. It also does an excellent job with line level inputs. A very clean sound.