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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?
viethluu
jumia
528 posts
 
Aside from attenuator, not many understand what happens inside the preamp box.  A ten inch signal path inside a box costing $5 to $15k.


I’ll take it !


aewarren
695 posts
 
What you may have "proved" is that the C1 amp is a better match for your speakers.
bigkidz
3,420 posts
 
Not always true it depends on the components.


jond's avatar
jond
6,001 posts
 
In a general sense not a surprise at all it's much harder to make a good preamp so a $1K preamp will generally be compromised. It's much easier to produce a good budget amp.
jundaku
27 posts
 
Yes and no, assuming the amps output the same amount then I would agree the more expensive preamp matters more. I’ve done a similar thing with McIntosh gear, Rotel Preamps and Emotiva amps. 
On La Scalas the Mac c47 preamp + Emotiva XPA2 amp sounded better then a Rotel Preamp with a MC275. The same was true with B&W 683s. The interesting thing is that the Rotel preamp with the XPA2 sounded better then the c47 + MC275 combo since those power hungry speakers needed a lot more power to come alive.
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