2. amps-preamps
  3. 174980-170745

The Best Preamp is no Preamp?

So recently I've discovered the possibility of completely removing my preamp from my rig. I've never heard or considered this before, so much audio tradition... But in going directly from DAC to amplifier the sound quality is absolutely incredible, instantly had me grinning. Using music server to Chord M Scaler to Chord Qutest (cut out Marantz SR5015) to go directly to dual Emotiva XPA-DR1 monoblocks, to GR Research's 24 strand speaker wire to Magnepan 1.7i's.  Only difference is running volume on server vs Marantz remote, sound quality is the biggest jump I've ever heard with any gear.

Have you guys had experience cutting out the preamp from your rig? What's your thoughts?

128x128brandonhifi
willgolf
936 posts
 

Recently, i tested going from my Lampi Pacific direct to my 300B mono amps.  I was shocked at how good it sounded.  Maybe it is system-dependent but in my case with 98db horn speakers and having 16 Wesstern Electric 300 B tubes in my amps, I don't need a brain.  

zpsaxon
5 posts
 

I have to agree a great preamp will change and reveal what your system should sound like with the magic quality,  compared to just playing music nicely. I ran a parasound preamp( holo no real  sound was stale, dead sounding), then ran balanced xlr from balanced dac smsl to a old but nice anthem reciever amp( cheap way to get great volume control but no real magic to the sound but nice for cheap).

Then ran a conrad Johnson pv11 with tubes but no xlrs, opened stage, could hear separation better but not coherent, was happier but still missing something. Then bought audio research ls17, omg wow drop your jaw. This was use as reference for reviewers 10 years ago and I know why. 4k or 5k new. Run fully balanced smsl to audio research ls17 out to jeff rowland class a amp to 1.6r Maggie's.  Wow the sound went holographic, live sounds amazing, can hear all instruments  in sound stage but sounded musical, and bass tightened up so much and hit harder, so it's a journey but preamps can take, control, and pull everything  together to sound amazing.

audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 

You could go with just a control amplifier. 

 

gerrie
107 posts
 

Using an AVR for pre amp, says enough!

sandthemall
544 posts
 

Bought a Carver TFM amp in the mid 90s. Sounded great with CD player going into it directly. I used the gain knobs on the front panel for each channel as volume knobs. Sounded clean.

Sometime around 2008 I bought a new NAD preamp...entry level stuff @ $700. I was expecting to lose a little resolution going into the Carver. Sounded soooo much better. More body, more bass...it had this softness and smoothness. It did not make sense at the time.

I had to turn the gain knobs on the amp all the way up to max (as recommended by the Carver manual) to use a preamp. I thought it was going to blow up...but it sounded beautiful.

The class A gain stages in preamps are designed to handle very delicate signals much better than the gain stages in your average amp.

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