2. amps-preamps
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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?
128x128rols
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,933 posts
 
I firmly believe that for 99% of applications, a true, discrete, stepped attenuator using a minimal number of resistors, great contacts, and good (not awesome) resistors is pretty darn transparent.
It is.

The thing that is keeping the preamp as a thing in high end audio is the simple fact that most sources don't have the ability to handle the interconnect cable used all that well. A good preamp does. A preamp that colors the sound more than a passive control isn't a good preamp in my book. A good preamp will be less colored than a passive. This is simply on account of the interconnect cables themselves (if you've ever heard differences between cables you know what I'm talking about). Cables will exhibit the greatest amount of coloration with passive devices.
dsper
663 posts
 
@larsman
When I added a Herron Audio tube pre-amp to my system, it was an immense change, and all for the better.
I have been thinking about a Herron preamp.

Why is better than what you had? What did you have before? What's the rest of your system?

Thanks for listening,


Dsper
perazzi28's avatar
perazzi28
240 posts
 
Simply stated, a quality pre-amp is critically important in a hi-fi system.  Audition some well regarded preamps in your system before making the leap. 
BOL
bpoletti
1,555 posts
 
@itsjustme 

Like I said, I didn't read every comment. Missed yours and mc's.  And you're right on REALLY LONG cables.


tommylion
874 posts
 
In my single source CD based system, the DIY HiFi Supply Django Mini TVC, with Silk transformers, works great, for what I consider a very reasonable price.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/diy-hifi-django-mini-tvc-pre

In my system, I consider the pre essential, but I will never go back to active and/or resistive volume control. When I have the funds to make a serious upgrade, I’m looking at the Music First Audio Baby Reference or Reference.

https://www.mfaudio.co.uk/pre-amplifiers/
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