Goldpoint is a great passive. I use one with the Dual Volume pots. Very hard to tell the difference between direct to amp and using the Goldpoint..
Partly passive preamp?
I’ve been using an Audio Research LS22 preamp with my Krell duo 175xd power amp. I also use an Audio Research PH3 phono stage. Since the ARC preamp is about 25 years old, I’ve thought of replacing it. First, I decided to connect my PS Audio Directstream DAC directly to the Krell amp to see if it made a difference (the DirectStream has a good volume control). It sounds great. If I never wanted to use my turntable and tuner again, I’d consider sticking with this setup. My question: is there such a thing as a preamp which would allow me to use my other equipment but does nothing to the signal coming from the dac...which is essentially passive when using the dac input?
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Don’t know a single person who has kept one though.I know many that have dumped their $KKK dollar active preamps for them, just mine alone that has only one input, is nudging up to 1k world wide now. And going direct source to amp is just a bit better again, if not "bit-stripping" by having the sources digital domain volume too low. Cheers George |
There is a few posts in the LA4 preamp thread today that gives some examples of the quality of the LA4. You got nothing to lose other than $2500 if you do the 30 day free trial from Benchmark. I use a HPA4 with a few analog sources including a DAC. Wow, did not realize the HPA4 was Product of the Year for 2019. It is marvelous with headphones. https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/reviews/hpa4-review-tom-martin-the-absolute-sound |
@fast As with yourself, I was also looking for a preamp that was very benign to the signal coming in. The 2 that I narrowed my focus on were the Mola Mola Makua $12K - $20K and the Benchmark LA4 $2.5K. I ended up getting the HPA4 at $3K. The HPA4 is the finest component I ever bought and I am building my office system around it. Some folks are putting 20K+ sources and 20K+ amps in-between the LA4 for the same reason you are looking to do with a preamp. If I go separates for my future downstairs ssytem I will get another LA4 or HPA4. Ease of use for the wife is going to be a big factor on the downstairs system (iPhone, simple turn on, etc...). So not sure about separates. |
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