2. amps-preamps
  3. 169721-127218

How important is the pre-amp?

Hello all,

Genuine request here for other's experiences.

I get how power amps can make really significant changes to the sound of a system. And of course speakers have an even bigger effect. And then there is the complicated relationship between the speaker and power amp. But I wonder about pre-amps.

In theory a well designed preamp should just act as a source switch and volume control. But does it add (or ruin) magic? Can a pre-amp color the sound? Alter pace and timing? Could you take a great sounding system and spoil it with the wrong preamp? Stereophile once gushed (while reviewing a preamp that cost as much as a car) that the preamp was the heart of the system, setting the tone of everything. Really? Some people don't even bother with a preamp, feeding their DACs straight into the power amp. Others favor passive devices, things without power. If one can get a perfectly good $2K preamp, why bother with 20K?

What your experiences been?
rols
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mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
From integral to superfluous to hindrance. It’s system dependent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Had a  Chinese clone of a  jadis circuit, obviously far away froma  actual Jadis,a s 1 tech geek who mods these linestage told me,,,but anyway,, had 6 12AT7's, love all those tubes,,,installed Mundorf caps, ,,,6 months later added a Jadis DPL from 2000 era, installed M caps, Takman resistors,, honestly,, the DPL was a  nuance superior, not bu much.
So yes, a  linestage has slight, minisclue gains in sonic.s

My mantra here on audiogon is
~~Speakers are everything ina  system~~
At least 90% of the soundstage.
= preamps/amps/source, all divide the 15%
5%/5%/5%
Speakers 85%
So do the math. 
bigkidz
3,444 posts
 
like mentioned by Atmasphere some can and some can't.  Everything you listen to has coloration even passive, transformers, tubes, resistors and capacitors all have their own coloration.  You cannot get around it.

@tvad    The choice of preamp, and whether to use one at all is also governed by an amplifier's gain. Yepper.  This also comes into play when people write a review and compare things.  Not always apples to apples as they say.

Happy Listening.
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nglazer
857 posts
 
After almost 50 years of this mania, IMHO the preamp is the most important component in a system; it is the heart from which all arteries (cables to amp tp speakers) and veins (inputs from sources) flow. I have a VTL 7.5 iii and it is the most neutral, flawless component I have ever owned. Neal
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