Paul McGowan: My adamant stance against inserting a preamp between a high quality DAC like DirectStream and the power amplifier should be no surprise to readers of this blog. As well, my subsequent turn around embracing the exact opposite should lift no eyebrows either. But why would inserting an extra piece of gear in the signal path sound better than a more direct approach? How could this make sense? ....
Almarg: Makes sense to me. So if Paul McGowan can do an about face on this issue, at least under some circumstances, I guess I can too :-) But I believe that in general the opinion I expressed in my first post in this thread still stands:
Almarg: The burden of proof should always be on adding anything to the signal path that is not an obvious necessity. In this specific case a preamp is not an obvious necessity, and per George’s analysis (with which I agree) the odds appear to be in favor of that burden not being met. However, as others have indicated the only way to know for sure is to try it.
Good luck. Regards,
-- Al
Al, a smiggen of imagination here, did you know he made this about face Oct 2015, during the development period of his next to be released product in 2016 the BHK active preamps, hmmmmmmm? Cheers George |
As far as Oppo direct to Amp, I am told by someone who should know that the digital volume control on the Oppo produces a signal that is not lossless. I tried Oppo to amp a couple years ago and it sounded better with the preamp (Classe SSP-800) in the circuit.
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@georgehifi The direct drive amps I will use won't have output transformers and will put out 5000V to the panels. I've heard them in another system and cannot believe the clarity. It's really scary. Also, good for you for calling out McGowan and that BHK preamp. Which leads me to this: Seriously, we're quoting Paul McGowan around here now? Things have gotten a bit worse on this forum than I suspected. BTW - IIRC Paul's former partner Stan Warren designed a nice passive/active buffer in the early days of PS Audio. In my opinion they were a better company back then.
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The direct drive amps I will use won't have output transformers and will put out 5000V to the panels.
Same, drive esl's from the tubes 5kv, mono blocks to keep the speaker wire short as possible, the trany's I mentioned were for the power supply side of things. I heard a pair of 57's driven like this and it was amazing, they had a pair of Magnat MP-02 Plasma tweeters from 12khz up. I now own them also and they are on my Monoliths from 12khz up. Same as these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Magnat-Plasma-MP-02-ion-tweeter-massless-air-plasma-speaker-Plasmahochtoner...Cheers George |
leotis
I am told by someone who should know that the digital volume control on the Oppo produces a signal that is not lossless. Correct it’s not lossless, If you had to used that digital domain volume control below 75% of full up because it was too loud, you may very well have started to "bit strip" the resolution, from 16bit down to 14bit to 12bit to 10bit ect the lower below 75% you went. The only way out of that one is to have a passive in between and leave the Oppo digital VC up full. Cheers George |
