Who needs a Preamp??

douglas_schroeder2,015 posts10-28-2019 11:02amDirect without preamp is better, except when it isn't.  :)

Hey, I was about to say that, no fair !!!

Doug said it best. I will say The Truth preamp has been a revelation to me over the last three weeks. It is a zero gain, active input preamp that for the first time in my audio experience, sounds better in many ways, to many big dollar active tube and SS preamps I have owned. It has an output impedance of some 3 ohms and an input impedance in the stratosphere! No caps or resistors or volume control in the signal path.

It seems to deliver all the sonic benefits of a great passive without most of limitations of system synergy. The dynamics are there and is doesn’t suffer from the thinner sound I find with many passives.  

So who makes a passive preamp with balanced ins and outs, two outputs that are active at same time, multiple inputs for various components?

My experience has been with the preamp stage of the PS Audio DSD vs. an Ayre K-5xeMP, PS Audio BHK and Art Audio Conductor.  Hands down, the preamps deliver a better sounding signal with a more dynamic soundstage.  

Could just be the PS Audio, but there is no doubt that connecting the PS Audio to those three units was better than going amplifier direct. Other units may have better preamp stages than the PS Audio.  Additionally, those are all pretty spectacular preamps so with an inferior preamp you may find their is no benefit.  

The idea that preamps are obsolete is definitely something I disagree with.  

In my case direct to amp was not better when I listened at low volumes. It was not even close to the quality as with a good preamp. I listen late at night when family is sleep (when I should be too).