Tube pre for class d recommendations

ghosthouse3
The Freya is very flexible offering singled ended and balanced inputs and outputs as well as pure passive, JFET buffered, and tube gain output modes. It’s very transparent and readily shows differences in tubes and interconnects.

+1 Very good recommendation. Has everything remote, 4 x inputs xlr or se, best volume potentiometer you can get for less than $1k

orpheus10

If class D is so good, why do you need a tube pre? Why not a class D pre?

celander

orpheus10, I’m not aware of a class D preamp.

Forest and trees celander forest and trees.
I understand where your coming from orpheus10

"Being facetious is the word that comes to mind."

Cheers George

orpheus10:

"If class D is so good, why do you need a tube pre? Why not a class D pre?"

Hello orpheus10,

     I’m not aware of any class D preamps, either. But it’s my understanding that there’s no sound quality or other benefits to be gained from creating a class D preamp unless the goal is to incorporate some DSP (digital signal processing) functionality into the preamp in addition to the typical preamp functions of a switching control for source selection and a volume control.
     Traditional preamps, whether solid-state or vacuum tube driven, are low voltage and wattage devices that typically operate in class A. The normal class D benefits of low electrical consumption, low wasted energy converted to heat and low operating temperature are much less significant with a preamp than an amp.  There's also a wide variety of traditional preamps available that each imparts its own unique sound qualities to the total system sound.   My opinion is that this is a form of signal processing since it enables consumers to either pick their flavor or attain a more neutral overall system sound
     Good quality traditional preamps whether ss or tube, however, have proven to be excellent preamplification devices for very low voltage source signals. They work equally well paired with class D amps as they have for decades with traditional linear amps. provided care is taken to properly impedance match; the general guideline being that the input impedance of the amp should be at least 10x the output impedance of the preamp.
Why not a class D pre? The answer is there’s really no need unless digital inputs or DSP is required on the preamp.

Tim

owentdc,

     I googled your integrated and found a review on 6 Moons.com.  Here's a link:
https://6moons.com/audioreviews/wyred3/sti.html

     It's a very positive review and it contains separate evaluations of the linestage preamp and power amp sections of your integrated.  
     The line stage preamp section was isolated for evaluation by the reviewer connecting his own amp to your integrated's input/output loop.  His stated results were that the line stage had a very neutral quality similar to  passive preamps he's heard.  
     Unfortunately, he didn't evaluate any separate preamps for the review, ss or tubed.  
     With the existing line stage preamp section of your integrated being so neutral, this tells me that using various external tube preamps will provide a significant change to your system's overall sound qualities.  Good news.
     But I also believe your integrated likely incorporates an input buffer circuit in the line stage input section which may explain the lack of brightness on your integrated. 
     I'm not certain how this buffer circuit would affect the sound quality when a separate tube preamp is connected to the loop.  Perhaps others know and can chime in.

Tim

I just ordered a used ARC LS26 from an Audiogon dealer to mate up with my Wyred 4 Sound ST-1000 MKII. I should be able to share some impressions next week.