What is the best pre-amplifier among these...

I'm currently shopping for a pre-amplifier to pair with my Mccormack DNA 0.5 with Dynaudios 120. I stumbled upon a few options, with these prices in Brazil...

Quad 99 - $800
Mccormack TLC-1 - $500
Adcom GFP-750 - $1000
Jeff Rowland Consonance - $1500
Rotel RC-1090 - $1400

Which of these do you think I would be better with?

I have not owned any of these but I'd put Rotel and Adcom below the others on the list. At least I've heard Rotels and Adcoms. Not that they are bad but the others have higher reputations. Check the specs and compare them this way if you can. Specs won't tell you everything but they shouldn't lie either. I like the idea of matching name to name in amp and preamp combos when possible. They were made to be together and are most likely to be compatible. Just my 2c.
Bill

Is a tube pre-amp an option? McCormick+DynaAudio combo is pretty revealing stuff. Do you find your system fatiguing at all? What exactly are you looking to accomplish with the pre-amp?

MikE

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Originally Posted by jmabe

I'm currently shopping for a pre-amplifier to pair with my Mccormack DNA 0.5 with Dynaudios 120. I stumbled upon a few options, with these prices in Brazil...

Quad 99 - $800
Mccormack TLC-1 - $500
Adcom GFP-750 - $1000
Jeff Rowland Consonance - $1500
Rotel RC-1090 - $1400

Which of these do you think I would be better with?

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I own the McCormack DNA 0.5 Deluxe Edition amp paired with the McCormack Micro Line Drive, which I use passively. For the money I'd say the McCormack TLC-1. I not sold on the build quality of the Adcom. For over all performance I'd have to say the Rowland. Really though, the best way to find out is to some how demo each of the units within your system. That is the best way, but propably the hardest. Good luck!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmabe

I'm currently shopping for a pre-amplifier to pair with my Mccormack DNA 0.5 with Dynaudios 120. I stumbled upon a few options, with these prices in Brazil...

Quad 99 - $800
Mccormack TLC-1 - $500
Adcom GFP-750 - $1000
Jeff Rowland Consonance - $1500
Rotel RC-1090 - $1400

Which of these do you think I would be better with?

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You would be best off with the Mccormack TLC-1

It's gone, I lost my chance to buy it for $500, now only for $700.

Anyway, my other choices are:

Audio Research LS3
Sunfire Symphonic Reference (would have to import)
Quad 99 - $800
Adcom GFP-750 - $1000
Jeff Rowland Consonance - $1500
Rotel RC-1090 - $1400

Which of these do you think I would be better with?

Have you considered the McCormack RLD-1? I like its sound quite abit in my system.

Your in luck, My friend is selling his immaculate Classe` DR-5 preamp.
This unit was $1995 new, and sounds as good as the day it was sold. Looks that was too. The only reason he's selling is because he's just got an Audio Research LS-25. Let me know if your interested.

I live in Brazil, I'd easily buy your friends amp, if just I had the means for it. I'm working only over options available locally, at the moment.

What's wrong with that? I wouldn't pay $1000 for an Adcom and certainly not $1400 for a Rotel. I paid $375 for a used Parasound PLD2000 (near 2k new) and I'd guess that it's as good or better than Adcom or Rotel but somewhere in their league. The Rowland is probably the best but should be at $1500. I still like the idea of the matching McCormack.
Bill

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmabe

I'm currently shopping for a pre-amplifier to pair with my Mccormack DNA 0.5 with Dynaudios 120. I stumbled upon a few options, with these prices in Brazil...

Quad 99 - $800
Mccormack TLC-1 - $500
Adcom GFP-750 - $1000
Jeff Rowland Consonance - $1500
Rotel RC-1090 - $1400

Which of these do you think I would be better with?

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In my humble opinion, if you dont mind doing a little soldering work your self, you shold try the preamplifier and RIAA-stage of Niels Larsen. The preamplifier with attenuator (NLE 19 and NLE 11) will cost you dkr. 3000 (app. 400$) and the RIAA dkr. 4000 (app. 500$). I use it myself, and I guess its worth the double in value - the danish reviews are very, very positive). Try www.audio-link.dk/NLE.htm. Its in danish, but you might be able to understand the most important information Otherwise, contact me (jens.mortensen@kabelnettet.dk).

Best regards
Jens

Well for what it's worth the Adcom received a class A rating from Stereophile and is supposedly a world class preamp. But then I've read from many that it didn't deserve that rating. Stil I would consider it.

I have never been fond of of Rotels preamps, love their bang for buck power amps.

Sugden and Audio Note make some top class preamps as well and both fit around this budget

www.hifi.com.sg/products/preamp/audionote/m1.htm
http://www.jesugden.co.uk/

Also

The M2(the higher end model) without a phono stage is under 1kGBP. Recommended by the blind listening panel at Hi-Fi Choice...Good luck http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/review_read.asp?ID=1380

Stereophile/Listener review (Art Dudley reviewed(s) fr both mags: http://audiophile.hypermart.net/art.htm#m2

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Originally Posted by jbangelfish

What's wrong with that? I wouldn't pay $1000 for an Adcom and certainly not $1400 for a Rotel. I paid $375 for a used Parasound PLD2000 (near 2k new) and I'd guess that it's as good or better than Adcom or Rotel but somewhere in their league. The Rowland is probably the best but should be at $1500. I still like the idea of the matching McCormack.
Bill

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Your PLD2000 at $375 is the deal of the century. It's a GREAT preamp and I'd take it over the either the Rotel or the Adcom and although the stakes are a little higher with the Audio Research preamp mentioned, I'd still take the P'sound at that price first!

Sheesh! How come I never find deals like that... grumble, grumble, *****, moan...

I'm very happy with it, it's very quiet, you don't kow it's there and that's the way it should be. Lack of a phono stage made me buy a separate but that worked out well with the Cary. I have no idea why it went so cheap but I watched ebay for awhile until I found it. You don't see many of them and I'm not sure why. I'd pick it over Adcom or Rotel also as their preamp reviews are spotty. Deal of the century? Man, I'm gettin that warm and fuzzy feeling. Love that used stuff.
Bill

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Originally Posted by jbangelfish

I'm very happy with it, it's very quiet, you don't kow it's there and that's the way it should be.

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It certainly seemed to impose no sonic signature when I heard it. It's the second finest solid state pre I've ever heard after the Klyne model (forget which one) but OTOH, I don't have a whole lot of experience with SS preamps at that level, being a tube guy. The lesser P'sounds weren't nearly as good but this one raised the bar rather high, IMHO. If I were a SS guy, I'd jump at the chance to own that pre, especially at the price you paid. Sadly, the secondary market is largely based on what's popular rather than what's good which is probably why you got it so cheap. That unit went out of production a few years ago and has not been replaced to my knowledge.

When I listened to the SAS Audio Labs 25 watter amp, it was matched with their 10A line preamp. It was simply amazing sound, and they seem to be blowing away the competition, from what their website reviews say. They don't have dealers though, so you would have to order direct from them.