2. amps-preamps
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Is Pre-Amp needed

Is a preamp needed.  I run my oppo 205 direct to an MC275-6 for two channel audio and it sounds good, but am wondering how much better a pre-amp would make it sound. A pre-amp seems necessary for multiple sources, but not for just one source.  Would it just be an extra link in the chain or would it greatly improve the sound? 
lilchris9
ghasley
2,544 posts
 
George, your absolute assertions are not absolute for all equipment. The ARC preamp provides more of everything, especially the layering of instruments. Put a great preamp in your system and see for yourself. If you dont like it then you have only established one data point, yours, not an absolute.
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 

I'm a single source one input tunable listener all the way. Making any sound I want is pretty easy to do this way and I get to avoid distortion while creating any sound I wish.

Michael Green

milpai's avatar
milpai
2,496 posts
 
I used to own a dual mono TVC which I sold. The new owner claims that it bested a $12k Bespoke TVC. A TVC is a step-down attenuator, is what I understand. So the signal from source is toned down before being sent to the power amp.
I was pretty happy with the TVC for years. But when I replaced this TVC with an active preamp, the system gained musicality and life. There is a certain fullness that makes listening more pleasurable. Bass is rock solid and startling at times. I am amazed by what a great active preamp can bring to your system. And I had avoided an active preamp for 9 years thinking that they would distort or add fuzziness to the original sound from the source. Well, lesson learned!
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
The ARC preamp provides more of everything, especially the layering of instruments.
It can’t make something from nothing, all it can do is to add colouration/distortion euphonics if you wish to call it that. If it’s not on the recording a preamp cannot make it. There is no voodoo in hifi!

I was pretty happy with the TVC for years. But when I replaced this TVC with an active preamp, the system gained musicality and life.
TVC's are a "transformer based volume control" your lucky that's all you disliked about them.

Cheers George
hcalland
39 posts
 
I started a debate on this forum several years ago about the advantages and disadvantages of a preamp. I even took my preamp out of my system for awhile. I was searching for a clean and pure single, so I thought. Like many have reported here, one thing is certain, the sound of your system will definitely change.

 After sometime listening without a preamp, I went back to a preamp and will never go down that road again.  Preamps add so much to your system, and not having one eliminates much of the sublime beauty of recorded music for me. 
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