Hey uberwaltz, I have tried going without a pre a couple times. What I can tell you is that the sound without the pre seems better at first, with more detail, but then after a couple of days it seems that I am missing my pre. There is just more emotion to the music with a good pre, and more meat on the bones if you will to the sound. Just my 2 cents.
To Pre or not to Pre? Here is my take
I remember reading in many places that the best preamp was no preamp.
Finally in a position to test that theory
Equipment is Esoteric sa-50 player, audio research ls preamp, bat vk600 power amp.
So I let everything warm up for an hour or so and then played some Halestorm through the system, for anybody who is not familiar with Mz. Hale, she is similar to a smoother Bonnie Tyler with more range! Her band has some great bass guitar and drum work as well so a nice little workout.
After 5 or 6 tracks I changed over to powering the bat direct from the esoteric using the same cardas xlr interconnects.
It only took a couple of tracks to confirm
I just did not like this sound, bass was much thinner, soundstage not as wide, vocals not as smokey for want of a better description of Mz. Hales style.
Hooked the ls2 back and joy was restored!
What does this tell me?
That absolutely the ls preamp is adding its own sonic signature to the mix, in theory that equates to probably a more "dirty" sound but to me this was the sound I preferred.
Now obviously no 2 people listening to the same gear are going to hear the same thing, its impossible!
However playing MY music on MY gear the sound going through the ls2 preamp was the sound that I wanted to hear, end of story.
Oh trust me its not just value perception, I sort of WANTED the sound to be better without the ls2 preamp as I could have then sold it and spent the money elsewhere!
I know there will be lots of people who can spout theories to prove I am full of it but the only judge of the sound of your own system worth worrying about is yourself!
Finally in a position to test that theory
Equipment is Esoteric sa-50 player, audio research ls preamp, bat vk600 power amp.
So I let everything warm up for an hour or so and then played some Halestorm through the system, for anybody who is not familiar with Mz. Hale, she is similar to a smoother Bonnie Tyler with more range! Her band has some great bass guitar and drum work as well so a nice little workout.
After 5 or 6 tracks I changed over to powering the bat direct from the esoteric using the same cardas xlr interconnects.
It only took a couple of tracks to confirm
I just did not like this sound, bass was much thinner, soundstage not as wide, vocals not as smokey for want of a better description of Mz. Hales style.
Hooked the ls2 back and joy was restored!
What does this tell me?
That absolutely the ls preamp is adding its own sonic signature to the mix, in theory that equates to probably a more "dirty" sound but to me this was the sound I preferred.
Now obviously no 2 people listening to the same gear are going to hear the same thing, its impossible!
However playing MY music on MY gear the sound going through the ls2 preamp was the sound that I wanted to hear, end of story.
Oh trust me its not just value perception, I sort of WANTED the sound to be better without the ls2 preamp as I could have then sold it and spent the money elsewhere!
I know there will be lots of people who can spout theories to prove I am full of it but the only judge of the sound of your own system worth worrying about is yourself!
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- 51 posts total
What does this tell me? Two things going on here, that need to be addressed. 1: You may have a system/room problem where the preamps sonic signature (colouration) is doing a cover job on, as the Esoteric direct into the Bat has a better impedance/drive than the LS2 has. 2: When you went direct, your Bat's input sensitivity is just 1.5v in for full power out, and your Esoteric is 2.2v out. This means your digital domain volume control in the Esoteric must have been turned down quite low. It's well known that digital volume controls "Bit Strip" the music (you lose resolution) when they are turned down below 75% of full. No matter what the manufacturers advertise. You would have been better off doing this comparison with the Esoteric full up and a cheap $49 Schiit Sys doing the volume in the analogue domain. http://schiit.com/products/sys Cheers George |
#1/ For sure I know my room is terrible but it is what it is, due to space restrictions that is something I cannot change right now but will be changed in under 2 years when I move. #2/ Interesting as I found just the opposite, running through the ls2 I used only a small amount of gain, running direct from the Esoteric I was at 80% of volume att for about same volume. Your statement makes sense but my results do not?? |
- 51 posts total