Best solid state preamps around $15k used with remotes
- Thread starter yuhengdu
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Cool, I see a soulution 520 preamp for sale at audiogon. I don't need the phono that comes with it though since my stack is digital. Have you compared soulution preamp to other ss preamps or tube preamps? I am trying to get a bit more impressions of it. Thanks.
+1
All 520s have phono, and it gets high marks for what it is. I never used mine, but never say never ...
Elliot G.
Industry Expert
Another option is the Emmlabs PRE flagship.
A friend of mine with a long experience had recently purchased it after a few days of trial; we discussed about the lack of grain, the superbly low distortion and wonderful tonal palette; at this time we both had the same linestage.
It's interesting to point that many superb High class linestage have in common similar specifications, especially the low gain of amplification; the Emmlabs does not make an exception with its 6 db gain only.
I never seen one in the used market, never Say never... With a 25000 usd official price you must find a unit at approximately half this price or towards the upper limit of your budget.
Just my two cents
Marco
A friend of mine with a long experience had recently purchased it after a few days of trial; we discussed about the lack of grain, the superbly low distortion and wonderful tonal palette; at this time we both had the same linestage.
It's interesting to point that many superb High class linestage have in common similar specifications, especially the low gain of amplification; the Emmlabs does not make an exception with its 6 db gain only.
I never seen one in the used market, never Say never... With a 25000 usd official price you must find a unit at approximately half this price or towards the upper limit of your budget.
Just my two cents
Marco
Scott Walker had a dirt cheap dented PRE for sale but looks like it's gone now. Frankly, the Pre2 is not a bad option. I use one with Classe monoblocks to drive Revel Salon2's -- sounds great to me on all types of music.
I agree without reserve! Actually I have in my system the Pre2 by Emmlabs that I find really excellent and well balanced in overall spectrum. My friend here in Italy that also had the Pre2 replaced it with PRE (the flagship of the brand priced almost the double...).
Apologies. VTL and VAC make great preamps reasonably priced on the used market that I've heard. Also, CH Precision.
My recommendation is:
Trinity Reference Preamp
From my personal experience, I would say: Trinity, Bespoke and CH L1 are really good preamps (and they are also in the price range you mentioned). But you won't be able to avoid trying these preamps in your system. I don't think it's a good idea to buy a preamp in this price range "blind" without first trying it out with the amp it's going to drive.
In my experience, the Trinity sounds with more body than the other two. They have a slightly different character - it's up to you to try them out.
Trinity Reference Preamp
From my personal experience, I would say: Trinity, Bespoke and CH L1 are really good preamps (and they are also in the price range you mentioned). But you won't be able to avoid trying these preamps in your system. I don't think it's a good idea to buy a preamp in this price range "blind" without first trying it out with the amp it's going to drive.
In my experience, the Trinity sounds with more body than the other two. They have a slightly different character - it's up to you to try them out.
everyone is gonna mention what they have as best 
but i'm gonna throw in another vote for the soulution. i have the 721 as i don't need phono either...man, this preamp does it all so so so good. dynamics, resolution, tone. if you're looking for a preamp that adds a tonal character then this aint it. the ch l1 is an excellent choice too and between the two it depends on musical taste and amp/speaker choice. if you dig through my post history i wrote a comparison of the two.
for what it's worth, i know audio products depreciate esp the uber swiss stuff. but when i see what these soulution pre's go for on the usual sites i just shake my head because its a really really hard pre to best.
but i'm gonna throw in another vote for the soulution. i have the 721 as i don't need phono either...man, this preamp does it all so so so good. dynamics, resolution, tone. if you're looking for a preamp that adds a tonal character then this aint it. the ch l1 is an excellent choice too and between the two it depends on musical taste and amp/speaker choice. if you dig through my post history i wrote a comparison of the two.for what it's worth, i know audio products depreciate esp the uber swiss stuff. but when i see what these soulution pre's go for on the usual sites i just shake my head because its a really really hard pre to best.
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