Your preamp, located between the source and the power amp plays two important roles in the audio setup - source selection and volume control, and should do without adding tonal colorations so "clarity and linearity" are the key to be a top notch preamp. If you have some knowledge of analog circuits and basic technical skills you can buy a used preamp such as Accuphase Esoteric (balanced inputs and outputs a must) on ebay and replace the volume potentiometer with a new Alpha or Allnic motorized pot (size of a soda can). Probably the preamp is the brain of your audio system. Or you can simply bypass it to connect the DAC directly into the power amp if your DAC has a volume control and digital inputs.
PREAMPLIFIER UPGRADE QUESTION
My system consists of the following:
1. Martin Logan Impressions 11A
2. Rogue RP-1 preamplifier
3. Lumin U@ mini streamer with Chord Qutest DAC.
4. Bryston 4B3 Cubed power amplifier
I just purchased the Bryston amplifier and it has brought my speakers to life. From dull and listless to vibrant and alive.
I would like to upgrade my preamp and my three choices are as follows:
1. Rogue Audio RP-9-tubes
2. Bryston BR-19 which is fully balanced.
3. Conrad Johnson ET6 or ET6SE
My cables are Cardas Clear Cygnus
Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
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A vote for the RP-9 here. I find it so quiet and smooth. Very pleasing to my ear, especially with my warmish McIntosh solid state amplifiers, now paired with my Rogue ST-100. It has the tubes and features I find useful, balance adjustable via remote, processor loop, also controllable from the remote, and even Home Theater bypass, which I’m not currently using, but a nice to have. Display can also be controlled via remote. |
@kjl1065 If you are planning a balanced line preamp, its a good idea to ask if the balanced preamp supports the balanced standard, AES48. The reason this is important is the balanced line system has several goals amoung which are elimination of ground loops and elimination of interconnect cable artifact. For the latter, if you've ever auditioned cables and heard a difference, that is what I'm talking about. Imagine not having to worry about cables again... These two benefits are lost if the balanced line standard is not supported by the preamp. Most balanced preamps I've seen don't support it; I think the reason is to reduce cost, or else the manufacturer may not be aware that there is a standard.
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- 63 posts total