2. amps-preamps
  3. 1139354443

Bypass preamp, better sound, yet fatiguing?

Does anybody know a good reason why running from the CD player direct into the amp will produce a better, detailed sound (e.g., piano sounds more real, instruments are better separated), but on the other hand, after a while, after an hour or so, the sound becomes fatiguing?

Is there any thing as too much detail?

System consists of Levinson 390s, 380s, VTL MB-450, B&W 802n. Interconnects are Transparent super. Speaker cable is Transparent super bi-cable.

Are the cables not up to it? Room acoustics? B&W tweeter to bright? I don't experience any fatigue, if I listen through the preamp, but the sound is somewhat duller (but better rythmically) than if I go direct. Any suggestions are welcome.
hgabert
drubin
3,285 posts
 
Usually when it doesn't work well the premap is tube and the power amp SS. But the VTLs probably have a very high input impedence and both the 390S and the 380S have very low output impedences, so there should be no problem.
wadia150's avatar
wadia150
85 posts
 
the preamps in cd player are up to the job as seperates would be
jsujo
348 posts
 
I tried to bypass the pre with SS Mc250 and with a SS CDP, didnt work well..The only time i managed to get great sound that way, was a Mr-71 tuner and MC-40's...that was a good combo.
jsujo
348 posts
 
I thought that there are thousands of people using tube preamps and SS amps...
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Hgabert,

Maybe I interpreted your original post incorrectly. You stated that without the preamp you are experiencing greater detail.

But is it possible that you are using the term fatiguing when perhaps boring could be more appropriate?

Generally, fatiguing occurs with ears bleeding, overly bright, or beaming, or anything else that causes the ear to dodge certain sounds or frequencies.

Boring is like elevator music where it may seem soothing and pleasing at first but after a time, the lack of dynamics tends to make one fall asleep?

-IMO
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