Seperate Preamp for seperate amps

horners83 · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

I am waking up to the world of Surround Sound. I want to keep my old
Crown Stereo Amps (I hve 2-PL-3's and a PL-2/SL-2/FM-2 set) and add a
pre-amp/processor to go with our new 50in Plasma.

I know there are great "deals" out there now for an all-in-one kit,
but I want to use the PL-3's to drive the fronts and rears. Any
advice on a decent pre-amp/processor for under $1k?

I see lots of posts suggesting to not spend the money on sepreates if
you are starting from scratch and I understand that POV. This is not
your typical situation since I already own the amps.

Thanks!
Rick

Archived from group: alt>home-theater>misc

Ric Seyler · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 16

horners83@charter.net wrote:

>I am waking up to the world of Surround Sound. I want to keep my old
>Crown Stereo Amps (I hve 2-PL-3's and a PL-2/SL-2/FM-2 set) and add a
>pre-amp/processor to go with our new 50in Plasma.
>
>I know there are great "deals" out there now for an all-in-one kit,
>but I want to use the PL-3's to drive the fronts and rears. Any
>advice on a decent pre-amp/processor for under $1k?
>
>I see lots of posts suggesting to not spend the money on sepreates if
>you are starting from scratch and I understand that POV. This is not
>your typical situation since I already own the amps.
>
>Thanks!
>Rick
>
>
Like Gandalf said, I'd also look into the Outlaw Processor/PreAmp.
Good reviews.

--
Ric Seyler
Online Racing: RicSeyler
GPL Handicap 6.35
ricseyler@SPAMgulf.net
http://www.pcola.gulf.net/~ricseyler
remove –SPAM- from email address
--------------------------------------
"Homer no function beer well without."
- H.J. Simpson

Gandalf · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 28

horners83@charter.net wrote:
> I am waking up to the world of Surround Sound. I want to keep my old
> Crown Stereo Amps (I hve 2-PL-3's and a PL-2/SL-2/FM-2 set) and add a
> pre-amp/processor to go with our new 50in Plasma.
>
> I know there are great "deals" out there now for an all-in-one kit,
> but I want to use the PL-3's to drive the fronts and rears. Any
> advice on a decent pre-amp/processor for under $1k?
>
> I see lots of posts suggesting to not spend the money on sepreates if
> you are starting from scratch and I understand that POV. This is not
> your typical situation since I already own the amps.
>
> Thanks!
> Rick

I'm currently using a Marantz AV-560 I picked up awhile back on eBay for
about $150 with my Crowns, and absolutely love it. It doesn't have
component or HDMI switching, but I don't care about that with my preamp.

If I was going to upgrade tomorrow, and didn't want to spend the sky,
I'd look at the Outlaw 970 $599
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/970.html or 990 $899
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/990.html

I just wish there was a decent [affordable] preamp that didn't have a
built-in FM tuner. That always makes a redundant piece in my rack.

-G

mykey · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 58

Lexicon.

Ric Seyler · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 16

mykey wrote:

>Lexicon.
>
>
My ultimate favorite is Lexicon.......
But to play in that field you gotta spend the money....

--
Ric Seyler
Online Racing: RicSeyler
GPL Handicap 6.35
ricseyler@SPAMgulf.net
http://www.pcola.gulf.net/~ricseyler
remove –SPAM- from email address
--------------------------------------
"Homer no function beer well without."
- H.J. Simpson

Oliver Costich · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 5

On Wed, 19 Dec 2007 04:51:29 -0800 (PST), horners83@charter.net wrote:

>I am waking up to the world of Surround Sound. I want to keep my old
>Crown Stereo Amps (I hve 2-PL-3's and a PL-2/SL-2/FM-2 set) and add a
>pre-amp/processor to go with our new 50in Plasma.
>
>I know there are great "deals" out there now for an all-in-one kit,
>but I want to use the PL-3's to drive the fronts and rears. Any
>advice on a decent pre-amp/processor for under $1k?
>
>I see lots of posts suggesting to not spend the money on sepreates if
>you are starting from scratch and I understand that POV. This is not
>your typical situation since I already own the amps.
>
>Thanks!
>Rick

The Outlaw that has already been recommended is good. My favorite is
the Emotiva line at http://www.emotiva.com/preamps.html
The one that is now $899 got great reviews when there was a different
distributor and is was much more expensive. The only drawback is no
HDMI switching on the processor but they give you a free (and decent)
HDMI switcher.

Vinyl Rules! · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

On Dec 19, 7:51 am, horner...@charter.net wrote:
A gentle suggestion: Consider using a good A/V receiver with 7.1
outputs as a preamp. You can purchase much more processing power and
HDMI switching capability in an A/V receiver than you can in an
equivalently-featured separate A/V preamp. And save yourself a bundle
of cash in the process.

Personally, I would look at one of the lowest-priced Yamaha or Onkyo A/
V receivers with analog 7.1 outputs for use as an A/V preamp: You'll
get the same flexibility and HDMI switching capability for about $600
or less that would cost you thousands of $$$ in a separate A/V preamp/
processor.

I went through the exact same situation you are in: I already owned a
great vintage tuner, a great preamp, and three 200 wpc channel amps I
was not going to dump (I really like their sound and reliability) and
when I began looking at A/V preamp/processors I was in the $3,000 to
$10,000 range to get the same A/V processing and HDMI switching
capability you can get in an inexpensive Yamaha or Onkyo A/V receiver
with 7.1 analog preamp outputs.

I ended up with a Yamaha A/V receiver that got good reviews in both US
and UK "'audiophile" magazines and I could not be happier. And it has
a "Pure Direct" mode that turns off the digital processing, etc., so I
can run my "normal" stereo preamp through it with no sonic
compromises, YMMV, of course.

No dealer will suggest this, of course, as they would much rather sell
you something in the Lexicon price range, and they'll tell you that no
A/V receiver can ever sound as good on DTS or Dolby Digital
soundtracks. Hogwash - The same DACs and processors are used in the
$500 A/V receivers as are used in the $5,000 separate A/V preamps -
You just have to pay more for the separates as their manufacturers are
buying their chipsets in quantities of hundreds rather than thousands.

> I am waking up to the world of Surround Sound. I want to keep my old
> Crown Stereo Amps (I hve 2-PL-3's and a PL-2/SL-2/FM-2 set) and add a
> pre-amp/processor to go with our new 50in Plasma.
>
> I know there are great "deals" out there now for an all-in-one kit,
> but I want to use the PL-3's to drive the fronts and rears. Any
> advice on a decent pre-amp/processor for under $1k?
>
> I see lots of posts suggesting to not spend the money on sepreates if
> you are starting from scratch and I understand that POV. This is not
> your typical situation since I already own the amps.
>
> Thanks!
> Rick

Dave Bugg · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 182

Oliver Costich wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:36:57 -0800 (PST), "Vinyl Rules!"
> wrote:
>
>> On Dec 19, 7:51 am, horner...@charter.net wrote:
>> A gentle suggestion: Consider using a good A/V receiver with 7.1
>> outputs as a preamp. You can purchase much more processing power and
>> HDMI switching capability in an A/V receiver than you can in an
>> equivalently-featured separate A/V preamp. And save yourself a bundle
>> of cash in the process.
>>
>> Personally, I would look at one of the lowest-priced Yamaha or Onkyo
>> A/ V receivers with analog 7.1 outputs for use as an A/V preamp:
>> You'll get the same flexibility and HDMI switching capability for
>> about $600 or less that would cost you thousands of $$$ in a
>> separate A/V preamp/ processor.
>>
>
> Or in a $379 processor http://www.emotiva.com/lmc1.html

Emotiva is a tremendous value for a tremendous product. Their receiver is
dynamite.
--
Dave
www.davebbq.com

Oliver Costich · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 5

On Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:36:57 -0800 (PST), "Vinyl Rules!"
wrote:

>On Dec 19, 7:51 am, horner...@charter.net wrote:
>A gentle suggestion: Consider using a good A/V receiver with 7.1
>outputs as a preamp. You can purchase much more processing power and
>HDMI switching capability in an A/V receiver than you can in an
>equivalently-featured separate A/V preamp. And save yourself a bundle
>of cash in the process.
>
>Personally, I would look at one of the lowest-priced Yamaha or Onkyo A/
>V receivers with analog 7.1 outputs for use as an A/V preamp: You'll
>get the same flexibility and HDMI switching capability for about $600
>or less that would cost you thousands of $$$ in a separate A/V preamp/
>processor.
>

Or in a $379 processor http://www.emotiva.com/lmc1.html

>I went through the exact same situation you are in: I already owned a
>great vintage tuner, a great preamp, and three 200 wpc channel amps I
>was not going to dump (I really like their sound and reliability) and
>when I began looking at A/V preamp/processors I was in the $3,000 to
>$10,000 range to get the same A/V processing and HDMI switching
>capability you can get in an inexpensive Yamaha or Onkyo A/V receiver
>with 7.1 analog preamp outputs.
>
>I ended up with a Yamaha A/V receiver that got good reviews in both US
>and UK "'audiophile" magazines and I could not be happier. And it has
>a "Pure Direct" mode that turns off the digital processing, etc., so I
>can run my "normal" stereo preamp through it with no sonic
>compromises, YMMV, of course.
>
>No dealer will suggest this, of course, as they would much rather sell
>you something in the Lexicon price range, and they'll tell you that no
>A/V receiver can ever sound as good on DTS or Dolby Digital
>soundtracks. Hogwash - The same DACs and processors are used in the
>$500 A/V receivers as are used in the $5,000 separate A/V preamps -
>You just have to pay more for the separates as their manufacturers are
>buying their chipsets in quantities of hundreds rather than thousands.
>
>
>> I am waking up to the world of Surround Sound. I want to keep my old
>> Crown Stereo Amps (I hve 2-PL-3's and a PL-2/SL-2/FM-2 set) and add a
>> pre-amp/processor to go with our new 50in Plasma.
>>
>> I know there are great "deals" out there now for an all-in-one kit,
>> but I want to use the PL-3's to drive the fronts and rears. Any
>> advice on a decent pre-amp/processor for under $1k?
>>
>> I see lots of posts suggesting to not spend the money on sepreates if
>> you are starting from scratch and I understand that POV. This is not
>> your typical situation since I already own the amps.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Rick

Oliver Costich · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 5

On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:31:50 -0800, "Dave Bugg"
wrote:

>Oliver Costich wrote:
>> On Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:36:57 -0800 (PST), "Vinyl Rules!"
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Dec 19, 7:51 am, horner...@charter.net wrote:
>>> A gentle suggestion: Consider using a good A/V receiver with 7.1
>>> outputs as a preamp. You can purchase much more processing power and
>>> HDMI switching capability in an A/V receiver than you can in an
>>> equivalently-featured separate A/V preamp. And save yourself a bundle
>>> of cash in the process.
>>>
>>> Personally, I would look at one of the lowest-priced Yamaha or Onkyo
>>> A/ V receivers with analog 7.1 outputs for use as an A/V preamp:
>>> You'll get the same flexibility and HDMI switching capability for
>>> about $600 or less that would cost you thousands of $$$ in a
>>> separate A/V preamp/ processor.
>>>
>>
>> Or in a $379 processor http://www.emotiva.com/lmc1.html
>
>Emotiva is a tremendous value for a tremendous product. Their receiver is
>dynamite.

Indeed it is. $979 for a receiver with all the signal processing of
their $899 processor (also a bargain) plus 7x125 wpc amp.

horners83 · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

THANKS! to everyone for the awesome input.
Your inputs have helped as I obviously have several good options!

For the $300-800 range I am boiling this down to either a used/
dedicated preamp (like Rotel, Outlaw, Lexicon etc.) or a new or newer
receiver as suggested. I think one advantage of the receiver is that
you will get closer to the latest technology/features for the same
price. I may sacrifice some audio preformance (I don't consider
myself as having "perfect pitch" for hearing anyway) but I will weigh
that against some creature comforts that I may lose with an older/
higher end preamp.

Awesome, thanks!
Rick