tyrion Posted February 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 No Doshi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penger Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 No vested interest but dude. Doshi sounds cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 no vested interest, but the west coast lawyer has a doshi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltron Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 And that Doshi is cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knuckledragger Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screaming oranges Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted February 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Is one of the balanced outs on the LS9 a pass through or a second preamp out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knuckledragger Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted February 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 I need a balanced preamp out and a balanced loop out or pass through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knuckledragger Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 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. \ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted February 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Thanks, I will keep an eye out for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Conrad-Johnson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimus Posted February 4, 2010 Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted February 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morphsci Posted February 5, 2010 Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 If TPA ever gets off their behinds a balanced Darwin would be just the ticket or you could ask Steve to sell you his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigiPete Posted February 5, 2010 Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted February 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 Thanks Pete but that would be way over my budget. I did love the SWL9.0SE that I borrowed from Oz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swt61 Posted February 5, 2010 Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted February 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 That would be perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopstretch Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Pass labs X-1 For Sale | AudiogoN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted February 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrarroyo Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 How about the old Adcom GFP750? http://www.adcom.com/data/manuals/gfp_750manual.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morphsci Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrion Posted February 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_hankins Posted February 6, 2010 Report Share Posted February 6, 2010 Would this work? No idea about quality. Ocean Matrix ASW4X1 4x1 Balanced Audio Passive Switcher OMX-ASW4X1 - SJ Media Systems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.