2. amps-preamps
  3. 1206138848

Experts: Why is preamp important?

I know that's a naive question, but the real question is how important a preamp upgrade is relative to the rest of a system. I've heard the statement "a preamp owns the signal", but I don't know what that really means in terms of ultimate sound. For example, is preamp to amp like a transport to a dac, whereby most people would contend that a great dac with a cheap transport can still sound great? I've upgraded my front speakers in a HT system to B&W n803s/HTM1. I currently use a 130wpc Pioneer VSX49tx HT receiver. Obviously I can get better sound from better amplification, and I'm considering a separate integrated amp for the fronts. But the question is can I still make a great improvement using the pioneer's pre-outs to a much better amplifier? Where should I really spend my money? Thanks much. This forum has been tremendously helpful, and I'm sure this thread will do the same.
jeffkad
larryi
3,886 posts
 
I don't know about your particular HT receiver, but, most of the HT processors and receivers I've heard, including those pushing $10k are very disappointing -- brittle, unnatural and unpleasant. If you are serious about good audio (not primarily home theater), you will need either a good linestage/amp or an integrated amp and then switch out the speakers when not doing the home theater thing. That is what a friend of mine does.
dunkmeister
52 posts
 
The pre-amp is as the name implies the first step in amplification. It takes a very low power signal for a source component and steps it up so that it can then be further amplified by the power amplifier. The reason a good pre-amp is important is that a bad one can add noise or "color" the source signal and then those unwanted additions are passed on to your ear through the amplified signal that comes out of your speakers. Today however, the output signals from numerous high quality sources are strong enough to not need pre-amplification hence the advent of the passive preamp which does a number of things such as allow you to switch sources and adjust channel balance but it performs no pre-amplification rather it just passes the source signal on to the amplifier to do its job.

I don't know much about the Pioneer receiver you have but typically receivers are a set of compromises to deliver a lot of functions in one box and at reasonable price. Some receivers have the reputation for strong amplification sections, others their tuners or decoders. The conventional wisdom is that separate components provide better performance but a number of high end integrated amps have been very favorably reviewed. So I think the test is in the listening, you have some good front speakers and hopefully an equally good center I wouldn't be surprised if you could do better than the sound from your receiver.
drjoe
130 posts
 
This is where your signal starts. If your preamp is the weakest link, it doesn't
matter how good everything down the chain is, you won't get the best sound.
In all the systems I have had, I found the preamp was most important . Just
my opinion.
Joe
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