How much do I need to spend to get a preamp that sounds better than no preamp?
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Nobody building an amp with a 25kR input impedance has any intention of it being fed with a 1kR+ source! And why not, that's a input to output ratio of 1:25 And if you look your Pass B1 is 1kohm output impedance (linked circled in red) you really have lost it sunshine. Now please I ask nicely go away, or I'll report you for stalking. https://ibb.co/e32XTT |
Will try out the Belles ARIA preamp shortly, and evaluate whether it can wring out even more potential from my Belles SA30 poweramp. Currently the SA30 is direct-connected to a SOtM sDP-1000 DAC/preamp, but I suspect the SA30 is not firing on all cylinders here. For a while I’ve been a rather devout "no separate preamp, thanks" fellow, being that I’ve found it generally requires a pricey separate preamp to pull itself from the sonic equation (i.e.: transparency), so to speak, will bringing to the picture the qualities a capable separate preamp can deliver, like a livlier, more dynamic and firmly anchored meat-on-the-bones presentation. In addition to likely giving the SA30 more optimal "working conditions" with the inclusion of the ARIA preamp, there’s also the potential upside of by-passing the internal volume control of the SOtM DAC/preamp, of course only to be relieved by the one in the ARIA. Why the ARIA? It would seem to defy my preconception about requiring a costly preamp to make it worthwhile (i.e.: the ARIA retails for under $1,500), but several I know have pointing to it being extremely capable, despite its relatively low cost. Moreover Dave Belles is an excellent engineer with a particular knack for making rather authentic sounding amps - to my ears, at least. We’ll see how it turns out. |
Cost for adding a proper preamp? depends demands of the system. 1. A low-end system with no PreAmp would benefit from a $300-500 preamp. (eg. Schitt Lyr 2, tubed) 2. Mid-end system: $500-1500 (several on the market) 3. Hi end: $1500 on up, the skies the limit, but $1500-3000 should suffice for many systems that are not the crazy expensive hi end stuff. |
