Best Preamp New or Used up to $3,000 ??

Contact Tim Stinson at Luminous Audio. Several months ago I replaced two $5-$6 K preamps with a Luminous Audio Axiom, Walker mod, 3 in, 2 out, single ended, with remote, passive unit, and could not be happier. What I am hearing is less coloration, greater levels of detail and information, and a greater sense of prat, dynamics and space. If you want to hear what the recording, mixing and mastering engineers of your recorded music have done, this is the way. Go to their website. Enjoy, MrD.

Because an "active preamp" cannot increase the dynamic range any more than what source is giving, unless it has an inbuilt "dynamic range enhancer" (DBX and they sound s**t). It can only serve to reduce the dynamic range, because it's not "a piece of wire"  

I don't like DBX either for the same reason. But that's not the problem; what a good preamp can do is not mess up the relationship of the output impedance of the source with respect to the cable or the amplifier input impedance. For this reason a buffer without gain can often work as well if no gain is required.

IOW, a preamp does not have to increase dynamic impact, it simply has to preserve it, which many passives simply fail to do.

Its only taken digital designers about 20-30 years to come around to the fact that they need to put a good quality volume control in their gear. Because so many don't, this is a good reason for an active preamp. Additionally, should any other source be desired, like a tuner or turntable, a preamp is mandatory since those source don't drive a power amp to full output.

Georgehifi4,

Not to steal the Op's thread...

I run a McCormack DNA 500 with input impedance of 10,000 ohms. My Hegel DAC is 2.5 volts. Speakers are  Thiel CS5's, which are pretty inefficient with frequency response of 23Hz–20kHz ±1dB.

Any tube preamp suggestions? Could a passive work?

Thanks for listening,

Dsper

dsper

Hi, my answer to your question is first, but the last paragraph is the way to go.

With your 10kohm input impedance on the DNA500 it need 2.2v for full output, very hard to get a tube or passive to work with this.
But a 10kohm passive because it’s essentially a another resistive load to ground like the input of the amp. What the source will see is 2 x 10kohm load to ground which equals 5kohm.

Your lucky because your HD30 is a very low 22ohms output impedance at 2.6v, this should be no problems driving into combined 5kohms above, and you have 2.6v at you disposal from your source, you only need 2.25v in for full output on the DNA.

But why go this way you Hegal HD30 dac has a "high quality volume control" use it direct into your amp instead as it will be the very best for transparency and dynamics and an absolute perfect match. This way you can use rca or balanced because the Hegal and DNA500 have both, try both as it can go either way which sounds best.
(read your manual on how to activate and use this 0-100 level remote control volume control)



Cheers George

Synergy with your other components is key.  In your price range the McIntosh C220 tune pre amp is certainly a contender.

I have 2.6 Maggies driven by McIntosh 501s via a C220 pre amp that I paid 2,500 for.  After years of searching, I quit changing components and just got into my music.

Your ears may differ in sound choice, but think synergy between amp, pre amp and speakers.