Pre amp suggestions for HCA-2

[relayer]

I just purchased a PS Audio HCA-2. Anyone have any suggestions for a pre amp under $1000 used?

[topspeed]

I always thought the HCA2 would sound great with a nice tube linestage from ARC or CJ. Audiogon has a couple of LS1's and a PV12a within your price range. HCA's are kind of tubey anyway, and the addition of the right pre could accentuate that, if that's your taste. There is this PCA2 (http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-Audio-PCA-2-Preamplifier_W0QQitemZ5857582479QQcategoryZ14974QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) for sale on ebay right now. Paul has always made terrific pre-amps so you should definitely consider this one.

Hope this helps.

[relayer]

I always thought the HCA2 would sound great with a nice tube linestage from ARC or CJ. Audiogon has a couple of LS1's and a PV12a within your price range. HCA's are kind of tubey anyway, and the addition of the right pre could accentuate that, if that's your taste. There is this PCA2 (http://cgi.ebay.com/PS-Audio-PCA-2-Preamplifier_W0QQitemZ5857582479QQcategoryZ14974QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) for sale on ebay right now. Paul has always made terrific pre-amps so you should definitely consider this one.

Hope this helps.
Thanks for the suggestion and the heads up on the PCA-2 on ebay. My amp is silver so I will wait till a silver one shows up.

[jtgofish]

I just purchased a PS Audio HCA-2. Anyone have any suggestions for a pre amp under $1000 used?

The Ming Da valve pre is very good apparently.Most preamps are crap really .You only realise this when you hear a really good one like Supratek Cabernet.Some of the NAD pre's are excellent-the 1300 and the 1240 for example.They are a bit warm and hazy sounding but have good speed,timing and image well.

[Geoffcin]

I just purchased a PS Audio HCA-2. Anyone have any suggestions for a pre amp under $1000 used?

The matching PCA-2 would be the obvious first choice.

I use a vintage PS Audio IV that has a seperate outboard power supply with my HCA-2. It's also passive, and that's the way I use it most. I just recently hooked up the old TT, and the phonstage in it is great to!

ADCOM makes a killer pre, I think it's the GTP-750. It was designed by one of the legendary amp designers. Besides that, it's one of the few pre's that has a passive circuit, something that I want in a pre.

The dark horse here is the new PS Audio GCP-200. One went off on ebay just recently B-stock from PS Audio for $1300. You might be able to find one around your limit if you wait a while.