Hall of Shame

Hey Jeff, which Threshold Preamp was it ? Can you remember the model number ? Most of their preamps were rather "analytical" sounding i.e. very revealing on the top end but quite piercing if the rest of the system was not dialed in to work with them.

Kind of funny how some companies voice their amps SO differently from their pre's, etc... Then again, they might count on you getting relatively "even" results from using a "revealing" preamp and a "warm and sweet" sounding amp or vice-versa. Most of the time though, i have a HARD time sticking with the same company for both pieces. I usually find that companies that make GREAT pre's usually don't build amps to the same level and vice-versa. There are exceptions to this rule, but as usual, most of them cost a LOT of money. Sean
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Sean, I'm starting to share yr view regarding pre's & amps from the same manufacturer. And this, after advocating the opposite for some time for sonic & electronic compatibility.

As you say, VERY different voicing -- astounding! Funnily enough, an INTEGRATED from one manufacturer sounded better to me than the equivalent separates (that allegedly have bigger power supplies). OK, it may have the I/C (valhalla) -- but I doubt it: the sonic character was very different, not resolution, audible range, etc.

Cheers

would not welcome these: Dunlavy speakers, Classe electronics. In my book, They are IN Hall of fame.

Greg, i think some companies are more consistent with their "house sound" than some others are. Musical Fidelity for one seems to be pretty consistent. Like anything else though, it is a matter of personal taste whether you like that "flavor" or not. On the other hand NAD is one of those "flip-flopped" companies. Their amps ( warm and forgiving ) sound different from their pre's ( lean and metallic ). You would think that the designers would voice the components to be either compatible together or share common sonic characteristics, but who knows.... Sean
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Sean, I think that some manufacturers started out as either pre or amp "specialists". Given their original "killer" product, they then set out to pair it accordingly... which is fine but, it seems that the mechanics invlolved in casing pre's vs. amps (damping, shielding, emi filtering, etc), let alone the electronic circuitry design & choice of components -- is a herculean task, maybe, when it comes to voicing components alike?

I'm suggesting that although we DO get some up-front taste the brand is connected to (example: Symphonic-line - "fast & dynamic"), with some up-market pre-power pairs certain subtle characteristics we have connected to one or the other component seem absent...

Now, if we tweak one or the other component, MAYBE... but why have to tweak?
Cheers