2. amps-preamps
  3. 187942-165146

Add a pre-amp to Mola Mola Tambaqui?

In your experience is it worth it to add a preamp to the tambaqui?

I have a lumin u2 that features leedh processing

after listening to the tambaqui I am dead set on it. however, im wondering if i should get the makua pre-amp and add the tambaqui module ($20,700 retail) vs 13.5k retail tambaqui stand alone

I could also potentially use a different pre-amp maybe with a tube input stage.

however if i can avoid the pre-amp it would be preferable as that is a significant cost

i would be connecting to a krell duo 300 xd amp which feed kef blade speakers

 

does anyone have experience with this particular dac with/without preamp. How about preamp pairings?

questforhifi
yyzsantabarbara
4,851 posts
 

As I write this, I am listening to my $1100 Class A Schitt Mjolnir preamp with a $800 Class A Schitt Aegir amp and a Schitt Yggi+ LIM DAC with a RAAL CA-1a headphone. I am listening to the group Sault and it is incredible. I need warmth in this setup.

This preamp is going work well with the KRELL DUO. Forget about the Tambaqui's contribution to the sound. That is not going to determine your sound as much as the KRELL. I personally would not use the Mjolnir with Blades since the other 2 preamps I mentioned are not warm, but the Mjolnir will do what you seek with added warmth. This preamp also has a 15-day home trial. It sounds great with Class A amps like the Aegir and I am sure the Class A KRELL.

I know the sound of the KRELL XD well since I owned 2 of these pieces and I am debating trading in my big amp for the new KRELL KSA i400. Your KRELL is going to dominate your sound, not the Tambaqui. Seek a preamp that matches the amp.

 

questforhifi OP
105 posts
 

Interesting comments about the amp

So how about the krell illusion preamp? If pre-amp pairing is more about matching amp than it is about changing sound signature

what better way to match then use flagship pre-amp from same company?

I could even connect the amp and pre with CAST interconnect, which would be very appealing 

and yes the illusion is a very expensive pre-amp but on the used market its often found below 10k

 

see ultimately I'm only getting a pre-amp for sound quality. I dont need it for connectivity. Not to mention the mola mola has a decent volume control, and the lumin has an EXCELLENT volume control with leedh. 

dont get me wrong having the pre-amp functionality is nice, but I kinda view it as a glorified power conditioner in a way

yyzsantabarbara
4,851 posts
 

This may sound sacrilegious, but I like the sound of the KRELL XD so much that I would never want to use a preamp that adds anything to the amps sound. You give me a free $100k preamp, no thanks, if it adds to the sound. Not the way I want my system anymore.

A KRELL dealer told me that the CAST is not that good. I do not know since I never tried it.

If you are going to go KRELL preamp, wait because they want to come out with a new preamp to match the KSA i400 amp that I mentioned earlier. If I were to get that $36k KRELL amp I would use my $3k Benchmark LA4 with it. I know that it is a great pairing because it was so with the DUO 175XD.

 

More to discover