Now, these are some fine responses. Al, your advice is ever highly informative and always a pleasure to read (in my posts and many others). Doug, you turned me on to bridging the Pathos Classic amps I have a Cambridge Audio 840W which I'll probably do the same with as funds allow but the desire to NOT have an active preamp is largely based on money. The expense of a really good preamp is a deal breaker for me. I've had a few decent ones from Celeste (by SIM Audio), Perreaux, and Antique Sound Labs and all were easily bettered by not having them in the audio chain. I believe I had a Theta Miles and then a Consonance Droplet 5.0 with these 3 preamps. I do pay attention to cabling and had quality cables/cords on hand so the preamps were handicapped in this way. The sound was just obviously more open and detailed without the preamps. And I didn't hear a reduction of dynamics or bass weight without the preamps. Both of these CDP's had plenty on their own. Perhaps a top notch preamp would take my system(s) to the next level but I just can't afford it. And Erik, I like your advice. I'll look into the Jensen Transformers. Thank you all very much!
