tyrion Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 With the PerfectWave on the way, I now have a balanced source. My KGSS is balanced as is my McCormack DNA 1 (will be shipped for repairs Monday). I'm looking for a pre that will allow me to go balanced out to the McCormack and use a balanced loop out to the KGSS. The only one I can find in the under $2000 price range is the BAT VK-5i. Wyred 4 Sound has a preamp with 2 balanced outs. I emailed them to see if they could make one of them a loop or tape out. I know that BAT gear is supposed to be excellent so it is a possibility. I am curious if someone else knows of any other in the under $2000 range. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopstretch Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 (edited) Pass Labs X2.5. You'd have to find one used. The newer Pass preamps do not have a balanced loop out. http://www.passlabs.com/pdf/old%20product%20manuals/x2.5_om.pdf EDIT: Looks like the Aleph-P would work too. Those come up on A'gon quite often. http://www.hififever.com/forum/files/apman_134.pdf Edited January 30, 2010 by Hopstretch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreadhead Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 GS-X Sorry just over 2000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 A Beta 22 could be made that way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_hankins Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 Go with the BAT. They sound great, have a fairly low output so they match up with a variety of amps, and very reliable. If you can hold out I like the 31SE alot and they pop up around your price range. They are a little more flexible as far as inputs and outputs than the 5i. The 5i seem to resell faster though, in case you dont want to keep it. Plus they sound great with cheap tubes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 You could do worse than BAT. (looks over at his Aleph-P that is as of yet unhooked up) Just realized that that sounds like I'm saying the Aleph P is worse -- I'm not, I have no idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morphsci Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 I'll second Chris's suggestion of the GSX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 I'd go with the BAT. Not a VK-5i, but a VK-3i or VK-3ix and pocket the remaining cash. I've owned both and they are very similar. I'd rank them VK-3ix > VK-5i > VK-3. If you go this route, I'd strongly recommend trying out the BAT phono card option.. It's way better than it should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morphsci Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 I think you can also get an Aesthetix Calypso on Audiogon in that price range. I haven't heard them in a while but last time I did I thought they performed on about the same level as the BAT preamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beefy Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 GS-X That was certainly my first thought. Ticks all the function and performance boxes, with a top-shelf headphone amp a great bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 I think you can also get an Aesthetix Calypso on Audiogon in that price range. I haven't heard them in a while but last time I did I thought they performed on about the same level as the BAT preamps. Agreed, but I think the 3-series BAT is a steal at the typical sale prices. The 3ix is the one I'd pit against the A C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopstretch Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 The BAT 3-series do not have a balanced tape out, do they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltron Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 (edited) That BAT VK-5i on Agon looks pretty damn sweet and is available. And I too see only one balanced output on the 3 series. Edited January 30, 2010 by Voltron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recstar24 Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 The Aleph P is absolutely fantastic and incredibly versatile with multiple SE and balanced ins and outs. Plus it sounds awesome and is super well built, expect nothing less from a commercial pass product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 The BAT 3-series do not have a balanced tape out, do they? hm.. i see that they don't.. heh. good catch! I'm sure it could be "added" though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_hankins Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 I think you can also get an Aesthetix Calypso on Audiogon in that price range. I haven't heard them in a while but last time I did I thought they performed on about the same level as the BAT preamps. These two sound very different. The Aesthetix is brighter and airier and tipped from the lower midrange up in balance, with a little better soundstage depth. The BAT will be a little darker and have a fuller, bigger, more fleshed out sound, with some of the best bass out there but not as resolving up top. The BAT is MUCH quieter than the Aesthetix. I had both here for close to a month and sent the Aesthetix (calypso) back and kept the 31SE. This is not to say the Aesthetix is bright or the BAT dark, just in comparison to each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted January 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 (edited) Thanks for the input. I would love to spend less than $2000, if possible so will look at the Aleph P as a possibility. I hadn't thought about a GSX. I would love to have a remote which would rule out the GSX, it's over my price range and I have the b22. From what I recalll, I thought the b22 was probably not the best candidate for a preamp. I made an offer on the BAT VK-5i. Edited January 30, 2010 by tyrion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 Some models of the Aleph P come with a remote option. Just FYI: they don't all have this capability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted January 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 Some models of the Aleph P come with a remote option. Just FYI: they don't all have this capability. Thanks for the tip. I was not aware of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltron Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 I made an offer on the BAT VK-5i. Good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted January 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 It's been available for 11 days so I went a little low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_hankins Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 Good Luck, Hope you get it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepak Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 Sell all that useless headphone gear and join your west coast brethren Doshi Alaap II For Sale | AudiogoN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted January 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 I would have to sell more than the useless headphone gear to join my brother on the West coast. I did see that and it is sweet. I wonder if my wife would notice that the guest bathroom was not redone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltron Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 Sell all that useless headphone gear and join your west coast brethren Doshi Alaap II For Sale | AudiogoN Why would somebody buy a piece like that, wait for it to be built, etc, and then sell it within a month? I mean, I know I am in a Mike thread here, but he would never do something quite like that. I don't understand the thought process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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