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Best Preamp and Amp combination, interesting finding!!!

Hi all,

Yesterday, I decided to conduct a very interesting experience using my amp and preamp combinations. In the interest of fair discussion and also avoiding brand war, please allow me to conceal the name of the amps and preamps, knowing that both amps and preamps came from the same manufactures. The combinations are as below: 

Combination 1 (C1): $3000 preamp + $1000 amp
Combination 2 (C2): $1000 preamp + $3000 amp.

I went back and forth between C1 and C2 several times with multiple people, using the same speakers and DAC. The volume of both C1 and C2 was adjusted to be equal using my Db meter. 
At the end of the experience, almost everyone including me prefers C1. Which is a higher-end preamp combined with the lower-end amp. 
I was surprised by that finding. I always thought that the amp has a greater impact to sound quality, but my experiment proved otherwise. If you have any similar experiences, please let me know. I would like to understand why it happens that way. Why the preamp has a greater impact on the overall sound quality comparing to the amp?
128x128viethluu
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,924 posts
 
Well frankly it is really pretty meaningless except for the specific gear tested. What were those again?  Also price alone means nothing except how much you will pay.
antigrunge2
1,367 posts
 
This thread seems borderline meaningless: whereas the preamp is crucial on low voltage phono, all you need for high voltage digital is an attenuator in a reasonably well matched system. And that before you even start accounting for mismatches between preamps and amps: Dooh….
mike_in_nc
1,127 posts
 
I suggest: don't over-generalize! What you've found is that in your system, with your room, your source material, and your speakers, that you and your friends prefer C1 to C2. Useful information! But what you have not found is anything more general than that -- nothing about results in other rooms, other systems, other speakers, other musical material, and **especially** not other components, even those in the same price categories.

It is a human tendency to generalize from a small amount of data. If you can limit your conclusions to what you actually have found, you'll be way ahead of many.
james633
927 posts
 
Good write up. 
The volume control has one of the biggest potentials to mess up your sound. This is the critical part of the preamp. 

I have found amps don’t really pull away from cheaper amps until the $6000+ range. $10,000 amps sound a lot better than $3000 generalized of course (there are some cheap super stars) but $1000 amps might not be too different from $3000 amps. Sometimes the price difference is mostly case work. 
yyzsantabarbara
4,586 posts
 
I have recent ownership experience with 3 extraordinary preamps. I only mention this because I think they are giant slayers.

- $599 Topping pre90 (clean sound)
- $3000 Benchmark HPA4  (clean sound)
- $7000+ CODA 07x  (almost as clean and  a bit warmer sound)

The Topping and Benchmark will really let you hear only your source and amp. They seem to add nothing to the sound. The CODA also sounds incredible but it adds something beautiful to the sound.
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