Preamp with at least 1 balanced in, 1 balanced out, and one balanced loop/tape out?

[tyrion]

No Doshi

[penger]

No vested interest but dude. Doshi sounds cool.

[grawk]

no vested interest, but the west coast lawyer has a doshi

[Voltron]

And that Doshi is cool.

[Knuckledragger]

I went through a similar decision process in late '08. I needed a preamp with at least 2 balanced inputs and 2 balanced outputs. There's a thread on here somewhere where I discussed it [too bad this version of vBulletin dun have "search for all threads by user X" feature anymore ...or maybe there is and I can't find the sodding thing.] I ended up with an Audio Research LS9. It has exactly what I need: 2 balanced ins, 2 balanced outs, plus 3 SE ins and 1 SE out. It also has a remote, which is really handy. The LS9 a solid state unit, from a company known almost exclusively for their tube gear. Consequently, its used price is a lot lower than most AR gear. I got the LS9 for 1/2 what an equivalent BAT unit would cost me, and about 1/3 of a Pass. The BAT and Pass gear have way more sex appeal than the AR products, which are kind of stodgy looking. Of course, one doesn't listen to sex appeal...

[screaming oranges]

Wow... I really thought that was Mike bidding on that. How is the other preamp, with the matching case PS?

EDIT: nevermind, the other Pass Aleph's page doesn't exist anymore.

[tyrion]

Is one of the balanced outs on the LS9 a pass through or a second preamp out?

[Knuckledragger]

The LS9 has four sets of outputs in total. Both balanced, and one of the SE are preamp outs. There is also a SE record out, which is pass-through.

[tyrion]

I need a balanced preamp out and a balanced loop out or pass through.

[Knuckledragger]

The AR LS10 is completely balanced-or-SE (take a look at the back panel), but it is a bigger and more expensive unit. It is solid state, like the LS9. The LS22, LS25, and LS26 are similarly balanced/SE, but are tube and will be vastly more expensive than an LS9.

Audio Research LS25 Mkll For Sale | AudiogoN $2500, sold. \

[tyrion]

Thanks, I will keep an eye out for them.

[Dusty Chalk]

Conrad-Johnson?

[minimus]

I own the Aesthetix Calypso. A great preamp and completely quiet, rumors notwithstanding. I preferred it to the BAT preamps I demo'd. However, it only has an RCA tape out, not a balanced tape out.

I don't think I have ever seen a tape out on a tube preamp that was balanced, although I admit I haven't looked very hard. Good luck finding one.

I would be a bit wary of Wyred 4 Sound or at least ask questions before you buy. I own one of their greatly heralded Class D amps (see reviews in 6moons, Positive Feedback, et al). It sounds really lousy and now just takes up space in my closet. If they mod one of the balanced outs on their new greatly heralded preamp to a balanced tape out, I would just make sure that you can still return the thing if you decide you don't like it at the end of their 30-day trial period.

One thought is to just connect RCA cables from the Perfect Wave DAC to a single-ended or balanced preamp (the Calypso?) that drives your power amp and speakers. Also connect XLR cables from the Perfect Wave DAC to your balanced headphone amp. Just turn on the one that you want to listen to and leave the other one off. Or leave them both on if you want (not sure why you would, unless you want to listen to your headphones and speakers at the same time). I am currently doing that with my Perfect Wave DAC and it works perfectly. I am sure I am violating some golden rule of audio by doing this but it still sounds great.

[tyrion]

I want to go balanced into both my KGSS and my McCormack power amp (which by the way arrives at McCormack East today for much needed tlc).

I'm now thinking of trying out the PWD as the preamp. Is there a device that will let me take the balanced out from the PVD into a switch box that has a balanced input and two or more balanced outs? In other words, a Skipjack that is balanced.

[morphsci]

If TPA ever gets off their behinds a balanced Darwin would be just the ticket or you could ask Steve to sell you his.

[DigiPete]

How about inquiring from Dan @ Modwright if he can customize an LS36.5, which already has balanced in/outs, to add a balanced tape out?

By the way this unit sounds fabulous, I just got it yesterday and it is a significant step up from the SWL9.0SE

[tyrion]

Thanks Pete but that would be way over my budget. I did love the SWL9.0SE that I borrowed from Oz.

[swt61]

The Darwin truly would be the perfect switcher for you Mike. Sorry for the fuzzy pic, but as you can see the balanced Darwin kit has 6 balanced inputs, two outputs and a loop out. Plenty of room for future expansion.

Unfortunately mine is not going anywhere anytime in the foreseeable future.

It may be worth your while to post at HF to see if anyone has a kit lying around, or even a finished unit. Slim chance maybe, but worth a quick inquiry.

[tyrion]

That would be perfect.

[Hopstretch]

Pass labs X-1 For Sale | AudiogoN

[tyrion]

I saw that one. Too much money at the moment. I am reminded of my budget as the guy arrived this morning to remove the kitchen counter top, sink and to cut a wall to get ready for the new counter tops.

[mrarroyo]

How about the old Adcom GFP750? http://www.adcom.com/data/manuals/gfp_750manual.pdf

[morphsci]

The Darwin truly would be the perfect switcher for you Mike. Sorry for the fuzzy pic, but as you can see the balanced Darwin kit has 6 balanced inputs, two outputs and a loop out. Plenty of room for future expansion.

awesome image of TPA Balanced Darwin

Unfortunately mine is not going anywhere anytime in the foreseeable future.

It may be worth your while to post at HF to see if anyone has a kit lying around, or even a finished unit. Slim chance maybe, but worth a quick inquiry.

That would be perfect.

Yeah, I have little hope of anything happening at TPA. I have been waiting for over a year to pick up kits to make a balanced Darwin. Plus I have a certain fondness for the name.

[tyrion]

I know there are some clever DIY'rs out there that can figure out how to make something similar. It looks like there are 3 of us looking a Darwin.

[tom_hankins]

Would this work? No idea about quality.

Ocean Matrix ASW4X1 4x1 Balanced Audio Passive Switcher OMX-ASW4X1 - SJ Media Systems