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Low noise Preamp for High Eff Speakers

Recently I picked up a Threshold T3 preamp and amazed how much lower the noise floor was than my Audio Research LS3B. Dead quite even with your ears to the tweeters. Yet it lacked the dynamics of the Audio Research, more laid back. I still like both of them but interested in getting others opinions on low noise preamps (tube or solid state) that are very musical in all practical dimensions (sound stage, inner detail, bass and treble extension, low or no electronic haze/glare, etc). I am looking at auditioning some ultra-efficient speakers (greater than 91 db) and would like to get a feel for best matching to the speakers. I have been happy with my B&W 801 series 3 speakers now for about 5 years but looking at being more Energy Friendly and at the same time getting more immediate sound that many high efficiency speakers are reported to give. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
nanderson
xiekitchen
821 posts
 
I have had the best sound with a passive QED preamp that was heavily modd'd (cardas wiring harness + cardas jacks, damp'd chassis) this has no noise, and although it has no additional gain over the source, it is very dynamic, great bass, bigger sound stage, more detail, no coloration.
I would never go back to an active preamp... maybe just a better passive (with better volume control)
albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
The Aesthetix Callisto is extremely low noise, and with twin balanced stepped volume controls, one for each channel, it is capable of ultra low level resolution with high channel separation. The stock Sovtek tubes sound good in it due to the excellent design, but upgrading to selected NOS makes this the best preamp currently available (in my opinion).
plato
1,543 posts
 
Most high-quality tube preamps exhibit more noise than their SS counterparts and passive units. Most passives, no matter how pure and extended, lack the ultimate dynamics and rhythmic drive of high end active units.
I have 2 recommendations that may work for you. The first is the highly rated Adcom GFP-750 which is great for the money. The second is the InnerSound SS preamp, which is transparent, musical, detailed and extremely low in noise, and costs a bit more ($2995). To my ears, the InnerSound is more relaxed and involving than the Adcom, and equally if not more competent in all other parameters. It blows away many other preamps that I've tried.
mgottlieb
334 posts
 
You might try the Pass X-1 (and the matching phono amp, the X-ONO). Thewe are really quiet, and very fine. See Cordesman's reviews in (I think) the January and February Absolute Sound.
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