Quote Originally Posted by kexodusc
I don't really think near enough time is spent on this area of a system, instead amps are the more popular and involving topics. I've always just used the pre-outs from old receivers to act as pre-amps. What should one look for when buying a pre-amp (other than # and types of inputs/outputs)? What makes one better than the next? Any good, cheap preamps you'd recommend?

You're better off using the power section of an old receiver rather than its preamp section. If I could tell you why, I would - but I can't. I don't know. But for some mysterious reason, my experience has proven to me that it must be easier to screw up a preamp than a power amp (assuming adequate power and power supplies, etc etc) as I've found more sonic differences in them than in power amps (see assumptions above). Certainly poorly designed power amps can do a lot of damage but with good gear all 'round, the preamp is ultra important.

What makes one better than the next? Your preference for the sound. A cost-no-object preamp tends to sound better for the simple reason that there are few if any compromises in parts and workmanship quality. But this isn't always the case - the sound, I mean. I once heard an inexpensive Rotel preamp that I preferred over a much more expensive Bryston. Then again, I heard a different Bryston kick the pants of the same Rotel. Go figure.

The neat thing about audio for me is not getting great sound out of spending a lot of money; it's about spending as little money as possible and still getting superior sound. A good place to start for a preamp is the little Parasound PHP-850 available right now from www.audioadvisor.com for $250. No, it isn't the end all/be all of preamps but it's the best sounding preamp new in box for that small amount. It even has a phono stage and what self-respecting audio enthusiast doesn't need that? Ok, maybe some don't. But this little booger has one and a nice headphone jack as well as tone controls. It doesn't screw up the sound too much which for $250 is saying a lot! Cheap receivers do, although I have a vintage Pioneer which sounds pretty durn good.

The difference between the Parasound and a, say, Yamaha or Sony receiver isn't night and day. Quite honestly, I hear night and day differences between different speakers and different phono cartridges and the rest is a varying degree of subtle. My subtle, however, can be someone elses night and day and vice versa. But the diffs in preamps are musically significant to my ears, sometimes as much as a (subjectively speaking) 10% improvement but usually more like 5%. The Parasound can be returned if you don't like it, also. Try it for 30 days and plug it into your old receiver power in input if it has one. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Note: I'm not a shill for either Parasound or Audio Advisor. But this is one helluva sweet deal.

Lastly, if you don't first have the best speakers you can afford, forget preamps and amps for now and upgrade your speakers. If I were to categorize by order of importance, I'd go this way:

1) Source. NOT source components but the software. The best sounding CD's sound pretty awesome on the worst stereo! Could be improved but still great sounding.
2) Speakers
3) Room acoustics
4) Vinyl playback source component
5) Preamp
6) Amp
7) Digital playback source component
8) All other claptrap such as cables, power conditioning, tweaks, etc, most of which I consider anywhere from dubious to an outright waste of funds.

Let us know what you decide on and how it works out for you. good luck!