2. misc-audio
  3. 1172032508

Can a direct CD to amp connection degrade sound?

I've had a Cary 300/200 for over a year and always ran it thru my Rogue 99 pre amp. A week ago I tried going CD to my Rogue Zeus amp direct. Many ads suggested that with a volume-control CDP, a pre was a waste. Sounded right on paper, sounded very wrong in person. The sound without the pre was flat,tinny. There was no air around instruments. What happened? How can a pre improve a CDP's signal when the whole point is to leave the signal unchanged? Has anyone tried it both ways and compared the results?
manorraul
honest1
586 posts
 
I have tried a couple pre-amps with my GNSC modded Wadia 850, and never found anything that gave a significant improvement. Most take something away. Even when I felt like there was an improvement in some parameter, there was more lost in other parameters that made it a net loss. IMO
manorraul OP
15 posts
 
Neither unit mentions impedance so I assume all you can do is try. The Cary can be set for a lower output voltage and I may try that. Anyway, thanks for the education
fatparrot
1,314 posts
 
Manorraul, contact the manufacturers. They should be able to give you the spec's.
rcschaefff7da
5 posts
 
Never worked for me. When I tried it, the system was all but unlistenable.

Thanx,
Russ
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