Pre or no pre?

[petro85]

I'm in the process of getting out of an integrated and into an amp and preamp.
I'm pretty set on these granite 864sr monos. I hear them every time I go to my stereo shop and they make everything I listen to through them sound better. And I'm getting a great deal and a decent price trading in my integrated.

I'm running vpi classic1 with cadenza blue/ fosgate/ jas integrated/ kef r300.
My dealer also has a granite 770r pre with a phonostage in it. He says I'd like it better than the fosgate. But for the cash I'd have to lay out on the pre. Selling my fosgate, and a few hundred more $$. I could get into a great phonostage like a steelhead or something similar. Used of course.
So my question is since I only listen to vinyl and a CD player in the future wouldn't be for serious listening and I probably wouldn't spend too much on one.
Is a preamp just a waste of money for me?? These phonostages I've been looking at all have volume control ,remotes and even cd inputs. I could spend more on the phonostage now if I know I don't have to buy a pre in the future.
Any advise would be appreciated.

[mbovaird]

Originally Posted by petro85

I'm in the process of getting out of an integrated and into an amp and preamp.
I'm pretty set on these granite 864sr monos. I hear them every time I go to my stereo shop and they make everything I listen to through them sound better. And I'm getting a great deal and a decent price trading in my integrated.

I'm running vpi classic1 with cadenza blue/ fosgate/ jas integrated/ kef r300.
My dealer also has a granite 770r pre with a phonostage in it. He says I'd like it better than the fosgate. But for the cash I'd have to lay out on the pre. Selling my fosgate, and a few hundred more $$. I could get into a great phonostage like a steelhead or something similar. Used of course.
So my question is since I only listen to vinyl and a CD player in the future wouldn't be for serious listening and I probably wouldn't spend too much on one.
Is a preamp just a waste of money for me?? These phonostages I've been looking at all have volume control ,remotes and even cd inputs. I could spend more on the phonostage now if I know I don't have to buy a pre in the future.
Any advise would be appreciated.

What about a pre with a great phono stage? I like your dealers idea. You might want to tinker with digital one day.

[petro85]

I plan on taking my fosgate to my dealer and listening to his classic 1 through both the fosgate and the pre side by side. And the fact that I can get into the monoblocks and the pre for 5g's even with my trades is main reason I was thinking about going that way. That and a good sacd player could possibly be a future option.
But the fact that I want one of these awesome phonostages that are on the market now are what keep me from going that route
Thank you

[bzr]

Trust your ears...in saying that I'm a pre guy.

[o0OBillO0o]

It's all how we define things .. In my definition anything with a volume control and multiple inputs is a preamp.

And it's must to have a preamp.

I use the McIntosh MCD500 as a pre/disc player / DAC- works great.

It's the same concept is for your phono/vinyl.

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

[petro85]

Originally Posted by o0OBillO0o

It's all how we define things .. In my definition anything with a volume control and multiple inputs is a preamp.

And it's must to have a preamp.

I use the McIntosh MCD500 as a pre/disc player / DAC- works great.

It's the same concept is for your phono/vinyl.

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

Yes thanks! I was thinking the same thing just wanted to hear it I guess.
I'm still up in the air about the way to go , but I'm definitely leaning towards probably the steelhead route. It's all the preamp I need for now. And that let's me get to the cartridge as I'd like to get another one sooner than later.
Thanks guys ill have a lot of questions in the up and coming months.
Even just a couple replies helps me out alot

[RSGarwood]

Hi,
I was wondering where you're from on the east coast. I was at a stereo shop Friday and it sound like the same one! Sounds like you have a great system. I agree with what Kevin said, trust your ears. From the system you picked so far it sounds like you have a good ear.....

[petro85]

Once I get this amp/ preamp thing sorted ill take a little upgrade break and enjoy it. While I do some tubes and smaller tweaks. Then I'll start all over again . Lol
That shop is in Bensalem ,Pa . Quest for sound. It's a good place. Nice people.
It's far from me . Like 1.5 hours. I'm in lanoka harbor.