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What preamp with your GaN power amp?

I plan to buy a GaN Class D power amp in the next few months.  I currently have a tube integrated amp, so I will need a preamp to go with the Class D power amp.
If you own one of the new GaN Class D power amps, please post which preamp you are using with it?
I am particularly interested in which preamps pair well with AGD Audion, LSA Voyager, and the Peachtree GaN power amp.
mabonn
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 


Any preamp passive or active solid state or tube if the input impedance of the Class-D is over say 33kohm input impedance.
But if the Class-D is 10kohm or lower input impedance then really only solid state, or hand picked low output impedance tube with big coupling cap.

BTW you need to delete the other post you have identical to this before someone posts on it, then you can’t delete it

Cheers George
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yyzsantabarbara
4,818 posts
 
I use the CODA 07x preamp with the LSA Voyager 350 GAN amp. It works great sonically. Though the 07x  has some operational gremlins and design choices that annoy me. The sound is mostly a winner though. A little bit of whisper quiet hiss also bugs me.

I have also tried the Topping pre90 preamp with the Voyager, CODA #8, and Benchmark AHB2 amps. On the LSA Voyager the volume on the preamp had almost 0 useable steps. On the CODA #8 it sounded flat, likely impendence mismatch. On the AHB2 it sounds great.

The preamp I sold to replace it with the cheaper Topping pre90 was the Benchmark HPA4 (or LA4). In retrospect I wish I did not sell it because I think it would have worked with all 3 amps. I am going to bring it back in the house to see how it works with the Voyager and CODA #8. I am thinking of ditching the Topping pre90 and moving the Coda 07x with my AHB2 mono amps on a second system, which is an awesome pairing.

I am thinking of getting the Benchmark LA4  preamp with the Voyager or CODA #8 (not sure which stays) since I use this system the most and do not want to get annoyed so much. Benchmark has the 30 day home trial which I will use.

The CODA 07x has some warmth to it and although the Voyager is also a little warm it is not a bad combo. The Topping pre90 and Benchmark HPA4/LA4 do not add much sonically. You will hear your sources and amps. 
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