Pre-Amps

Josh:Lyn · 09-27-2005, 08:18 PM

Hey again. I have a question. In my previous post I talked about upgrading my receiver, now its about pre-amps. I am going to get a higher end receiver and one that will have pre-amp inputs. My question is what do you guys think of getting a pre-amp? what do I look for? and how much should I be looking to spend?

Wayne Ernst · 09-27-2005, 08:34 PM

1) Most of the pre-amps that compare in price with the higher-end receivers will not offer you the capability to have an automatic setup and room EQ like the receiver will. However, Outlaw Audio and Sherwood have the feature in their pre/pro for a price range of $1,000 - $1,300. Others will follow, but it will be a bit more time.

2) Why not consider a higher-end receiver that is a few years old? It should have pre-outs. It may not have the room EQ, but the price should be right - and the performance quite good.

Josh:Lyn · 09-28-2005, 12:57 AM

Thanks for your response Wayne. I was not aware of that about the whole room EQ, thats something new to me.

I am looking to get a high end Denon or Pioneer Elite becuase of the discount I can get on the the two, but if Outlaw would be a better way to go, I will definatly look into it.

I asked some of the guys I worked with and they said that I don't need a pre-amp, that a higher end Denon or Pioneer Elite can do just fine, but on the other hand I read about them and hear people say how much a difference they make when listening to music. I know that listening to music on either of those high end recievers is awesome, but I just wanted to see what people on here thought about the pre-amp idea. So keep em coming if you can, thanks so much, maybe you can also convince me I don't need it ha. Thanks again.

Josh

ChrisWiggles · 09-28-2005, 03:06 AM

really depends on your budget, separates is a goal to shoot for if you have the means, but I would probably put more money and care into things like speakeer choice and acoustics rather than trying to jump prematurely into separates if you're on that budget edge. There are a number of very nice mid-fi and high-end receivers out there from marantz, rotel, denon etc etc etc. That being said, if you're building a more serious dedicated system and have the budget, some anthem separates would be where I'd be steering towards.

09-28-2005, 12:07 PM

Pre amps should have a lower noise floor then their receiver counter parts but the real gains come from the separate power supplies in the amplifiers.

Personally depending on which "high end" receiver you're looking at I'd rather see you go for the Sherwood or Outlaw combo's.

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Josh:Lyn · 09-28-2005, 03:09 PM

Thanks again for your responses. Given what both of you have said, I am more then likely going a higher end Denon route. I am not aware if Denon makes a pre-amp, but I am going to go the Denon way I think, so given that what do you all think I should look into for as something to put with that as a pre later on? I am just going the Denon route cuz I can get a really good deal on a new one. Thanks again.

ChrisWiggles · 09-28-2005, 05:58 PM

Most high end receivers (including most denon's I've seen) have full complements of Pre-ins and outs, so you can later on use just the amps sections and add your own pre/pro, or use the processing of the denon and add better separate amps, for instance. This is a fairly handy upgrading path for a lot of people, as you aren't fully replacing a components with new ones, but adding on to your system to improve performance in steps.

Josh:Lyn · 09-29-2005, 02:50 AM

Thanks for your response Chris. What pre-amp do you recommend? I am just looking in some sort of direction to head in. Thanks again!

ChrisWiggles · 09-29-2005, 02:08 PM

any number of brands make pre/pros, though I am partial to Anthem myself.

Josh:Lyn · 09-29-2005, 07:57 PM

Ok very cool. So when I go to get lets say an Anthem Pre/Pro this unit would be the first to receive any signal, then I would plug it into my new Denon, correct?

ChrisWiggles · 09-29-2005, 09:07 PM

Well, you could get a separate processor and then you'd just us the amp potion of the Denon, you'd use the denon's pre-ins. You could also do it the other way around, and use the denon as basically just a processor, and hook up seaprate amplifiers.

Josh:Lyn · 09-30-2005, 04:31 AM

Ok so now I have confused myself. So if I get the new Denon receiver(which would be surround) I would run the pre-amp into the Denon. Or is that wrong? I am just wanting better sound for my music, tell me if I am thinking of this wrong, or if I have the basic idea down. Thanks again for all your help.