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Preamplifier options - seeking help to determine which one

Hello everyone

 

I have made a number of posts already and I hope you are not yet annoyed with all my beginner questions. 

I will proceed with a Yamamoto amplifier and I will need a preamplifier with a phono stage that allows my Denon 103R. 

Yamamoto makes two preamplifiers

1) Yamamoto Sound Craft CA-03 Vacuum tube preamplifier with built-in tube phono encoder 

2) Yamamoto Sound Craft CA-04 Tube Type Line Level Preamplifier

Ad. 1: This preamplifier is more expensive that CA-04 and it comes in two versions: Double volume adjustment or Level Attenuator - the latter being a bit more expensive. What is the difference here and what do you recommend me to choose? 

It allows for MC pickups but "Since the maximum output is about 28V, it can be used not only for MC cartridges, but also for MM cartridges with large output and MC cartridges with high output" - will it be a problem to use a Denon 103R with low output? Will it be necessary with a SUT to make the Denon 103R to perform better?

Ad. 2. This option is less expensive. It seems more simple but I'm not sure what the difference to the CA-03 really is. I guess I would need a external phono stage or a SUT to allow my Denon 103R in the system.

 

Bonus question: I use an Apple Airport (yes, I know) to stream from Qobuz. Can I use the Airport with both options using an AUX or CD input just as I'm doing with my current Sansui AU 9500? It's just to be sure.

 

Thank you very much. I hope you can help me elaborating on the differences and explain the different terms (attenuator, line amplifier, etc.). 

 

apollinaire
johnss
591 posts
 

If you are using the Denon 103R you may want to consider a step up trans in place of a LOMC phono input and run the step up output into an MM stage.  

apollinaire OP
25 posts
 

Honestly I wish you luck but your theoretical approach to component selection seems more about buying into the marketing hype of a company most of us have never heard of than actual user experience or sound. Their website is heavy on that but really doesn’t say much about product design, specs, etc. That tube or its equivalent is used in a lot of medium-quality Chinese hardware, but pretty much nowhere else. Lots of experienced audiophiles and music lovers here but nobody seems to have heard of or listened to the products you prefer. Try going out and listening to actual equipment. Hope things work out.

I'm sorry if my messages come out this way. I must excuse my poor English. 

I actually just want to learn more about the technical things. What is an attenuator and what are the advantages of this? How come two models have different prices? Are they specific power amplifiers or what is it? When I do have an MC pickup, what is the better solution, an integrated solution with a preamp combined with phonostage or individual components? How does a SUT go into this equation?

 

I merely want to understand more and learn more about HiFi. 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,722 posts
 

My advice:

1. You have convinced yourself 'I prefer Japanese', yet I was surprised to read this from their site's 04 description?

"The resistors are made by DALE, which has a good sound, and the condenser is a polypyrene film capacitor with low distortion in the main part
Most of the resistors of CA-04 are made by DALE in the United States. Many of the resistors made by DALE are made according to the MIL standard in the United States, and their sound quality is so superior that it cannot be compared with those of the same class made in Japan. Its reliability is also several levels higher than that of general use.

In addition, polypropylene capacitors made mainly in the United States are used for condensers. Compared to ordinary chemical capacitors, this polypropylene capacitor has a superior response to pulsed signals, and the distortion rate of the capacitor itself is also very good. Since the difference in sound quality between capacitors has a significant impact not only on the signal circuit but also on the power supply circuit, we are trying to improve the sound quality by adopting a polypropylene type capacitor for many parts of the capacitor, including the power supply circuit. In addition, the condenser, which greatly affects the sound quality, is filled with high-strength epoxy resin in an ebony case by the company to improve the sound quality".

Each maker must differentiate themselves, they have made this a large part of their differentiation.

I agree with others: consider well known, well reviewed components in your budget, consider future resale.

2 . Learn More about Phono requirements: RIAA EQ; MM signal strength; MC low output signal strength; SUT's relationships of xFactors/resultant Impedances.

Think long, not just your current Denon 103R, but future cartridges, both MM and MC. You want more impedance options than what the 03 model or most built-in MC offers.

3. Phono Signals REQUIRE

a. RIAA EQ to occur somewhere, and

b. Signal  Strength BOOST up to LINE LEVEL which originally was 1 volt,

b1. boost MM and/or HOMC higher signal output some, or

b2. boost LOMC smaller signal up some (via a SUT) to go into a MM Phono for RIAA EQ and final boost up to line level, or

b3. all the way up including RIAA EQ (a complete self contained phono stage).

4. Learn about SUTs (I learned after joining Audiogon). Here's some SUT info I gathered while learning, after a bit of research it starts to make sense, or, like Bridge, simply follow the rules)

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11318

audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,028 posts
 

I’ve gone the passive route, Tisbury audio passive preamp, made in UK. I’m also using a smsl cd player with its own volume control, as well as the music hall ph 25.2 hybrid/tube headphone/preamp (own volume control), and the music hall A3 tubed phone preamp (own volume control). All these components hooked up directly into two NAD 268 power amps (class D) in a bridged mono block configuration. No need for a dedicated stand alone active preamp. Sounds great. This is one of 2 set ups I currently run.

elliottbnewcombjr
5,722 posts
 

ps,

The Denon 103R is a spherical stylus, the most basic, dare I say PRIMITIVE shape, with only 25db channel separation at 1khz, which limits it's performance regarding imaging, and has the least life expectancy due to all the forces applied to it's very limited contact area.

Do yourself a favor, try an advanced stylus shape with large contact area with excellent channel separation and tight channel balance, and resultant long life expectancy

I often recommend

MM: user replaceable stylus

AT750SH advanced Shibata stylus shape on tapered aluminum with 30db channel separation/1.0db channel balance

MC non-replaceable stylus (lasts far longer than spherical or elliptical, (renewed by pros or trade in programs))

AT33PTG/II MicroLinear on Tapered Boron, with 30db channel separation and even tighter 0.5db channel balance for superior imaging, the largest contact area, the longest life.

of course there are others, I'm not dragging a round rock thru my grooves.

 

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