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Is no preamp the best preamp of all?

As an experiment I hooked up my OPPO BDP-95 (which has a volume control) directly to my amp. I was very pleasantly surprised to hear a significant improvement in clarity and sound quality. Typically I have the analog outputs on the OPPO running through my preamp in Analog Direct. I have heard that the circuitry within preamps can cause cross-talk in the analog signal, deteriorating the quality of the signal. So, would having no preamp (and therefore no other circuits to interfere with the signal) be better than an expensive analog or digital preamp running in Analog Direct? I am not really interested in Room Correction or DSP of any kind. I was considering purchasing a Bel Canto PRe6 (which I've read is excellent for multichannel analog), but would it be better to just have the OPPO running directly to the power amp?
128x128cdj123
jimc555's avatar
jimc555
30 posts
 
If you like that experiment with yor Oppo BDP-95 here an even better one. Download a 192kHz 24 bit FLAC FILE ( I have done this with( Carly Simon No Secrets and others)from HD Tracks onto your computer, insert a keychain USB
(at least 4 gig) and plug it into the USB input in the back of the Oppo BDP-95, And listen to an uncompressed,
solid state(no moving parts)memory, 24 bit/192kHz playback
micro music-server.Some of thier files are only in 96kHz,
go for any music you know well in 192kHz the difference is huge. A taste of a High-Rez music server for low $.
The Flac files won't play on itunes, Windows ect. it will on the Oppo 95. Like all audio devices the USB needs break-in and may take a week on re-play to sound it's best.
trebejo
102 posts
 
Digital volume controls are the algorithmic cousins of mp3s.

In such an instance, the preamp has to be pretty contemptible if it cannot beat the digital volume control.

Don't fall for it, if a manufacturer will not name the specific algorithm used for digital volume attenuation, then you are most probably getting significant digital distortion. Don't be fooled by price, either, you can spend well over $1k and still get this sneaky problem.

I don't know what the monetary lower bound is for good preamps, but for starters, for $500 you can get a used TVC. Used Van Alstine is under $1k. A used AES is under $1k. New or used Mapletree, under $1k. Any of these should be a sonically good foundation for the rest of your future system.
cdj123's avatar
cdj123 OP
57 posts
 
I am currently running an Anthem AVM 30 to an Anthem Statement P5 to Eidolon Visions. I was going to try some Harrison Labs Attenuators (so I wouldn't destroy my speakers if I messed up) to see if they negatively affected the sound. I am running a 5.1 (with a Paradigm Sub 1) system, but I primarily use it for 2 channel listening. Would I be better off with a 2 channel analog preamp and a digital processor, a 5 channel analog preamp, going direct to the power amp with passive attenuators and crossovers, or a high end processor? Based on your recommendation, what specific brands/models would you recommend?
daverz
487 posts
 
@Trebejo

I just don't hear it. I've done a lot of listening at various levels of digital attenuation with a wide variety of lossless files, and I don't hear any ill effects. Can you be specific about what I should listen for or give some technical details?
rgs92
974 posts
 
IME, a good tube preamp adds a nice texture that I can't live without.
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