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The Truth About Preamps

I'm wondering now that we're in the digital age with so many cd players having variable outs, what does a high quality preamp do for a system? I've heard so many different stories on either you get more detail straight in or that you get more bloom with a preamp. I would think that if you had a musical cd player such as a Cary running straight into a musical and smooth amp such as a Classe or Conrad-johnson you wouldn't need a preamp...all this given you have only cd as your source...I'm just wondering what you guys think and your experience running a cd player straight into an amp. I'm thinking of running a Theta Miles straight into a Classe CA-300
totalmlb
kana813
956 posts
 
I don't think there's anyway to tell if a particular direct
CDP to Amp combo will work in your system until you try it.
The same can be said of passive preamps. Many CDPs have inputs for other sources, both analog and digital.

Like Disc, I'm using a MII and look forward to getting the digital input board for the amp, which will allow the use of just a CD transport or A/D output.

Is anyone using an A/D to run their analog sources into a
multi-input CDP like the Wadias?
ultrakaz
187 posts
 
A preamp should not make your cd player/system sound better. If it does, then something is wrong with output/input compatibility of your cdp and amp. Having said that, a high quality attenuator (like the Placette) is really all you need.

Unless I needed more power, I would rather put the money I would have spent on the preamp into the cdp.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
It has been my experience the cdp is something you can spend way too much for.

In my case a pre amp is necessary to make my cdp sound better. A cdp just does not have the ability to saturate my amps. The highs and lows just roll off.

Also, no one can tell me that a cheap op amp can out perform a sophisticated pre amp circuit.
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
i found this 17 year old thread which poses a very interesting question that is still quite pertinent today imho

the replies are not necessarily enlightening but the question posed is a good one many years later....
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

FACT!!! most sources today that have variable volume output have output stages that equal and sometimes better most preamps, especially tube ones.

If you need to insert a preamp to "color/distort" the sound you your needs, then that means you don’t like the sound of your source. Better saving money and change the source to one you do like.

Think about what Nelson Pass is saying in this quote about active preamps:

“We’ve got lots of gain in our electronics. More gain than some of us need or want. At least 10 db more.

Think of it this way: If you are running your volume control down around 9 o’clock, you are actually throwing away signal level so that a subsequent gain stage can make it back up.

Routinely DIYers opt to make themselves a “passive preamp” - just an input selector and a volume control.

What could be better? Hardly any noise or distortion added by these simple passive parts. No feedback, no worrying about what type of capacitors – just musical perfection.

And yet there are guys out there who don’t care for the result. “It sucks the life out of the music”, is a commonly heard refrain (really - I’m being serious here!). Maybe they are reacting psychologically to the need to turn the volume control up compared to an active preamp.”


Cheers George
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