2. amps-preamps
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Preamps waste of money?

I've been forced to reevaluate the role of preamps. The best sound I have achieved is result of adding a stepped resistor volume control at the input stage inside of my tube amp. All other options I have tried or auditioned including both active and passive volume control(autoformer and LDRs)have "colored" the sound in one way or the other to an unacceptable degree compared the stepped attenuator at the input. Has anyone had similar experience?
dracule1
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
If the stars lined up for you in this instance then congratulations are in order. I, like many of the respondents on this thread have never heard a good quality active linestage outperformed by a passive or direct source-amp connection configuration.
This set up worked out so I`m happy for you.
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
To gain absolute purity cred, you need to avoid music recorded by any method other than direct to disc, although ideally music should bypass everything and should only be listened to when performed by naked musicians using acoustic instruments played while they stand on boxes in the open air in a semi circle around your head.
ivan_nosnibor's avatar
ivan_nosnibor
1,047 posts
 
My own experience with this has actually been something along the lines of Dracule1 - except, and I don't want to talk over him on this, that I never really accepted that the Goldpoint SMD (yes, SMD!, and honestly anyone is free to go ahead and laugh if they feel so inclined, but I have rather liked them) series attenuators that I installed inside the rear of a pair of SM-70 Pro balanced monoblocks...that they were somehow actually *Better* than a $3k linestage. Just that they were to me pretty much 'on par' with one, but for a tenth of the price. Would my ears tell me I'd prefer the pre?? Oh, in a sense at least, it's not easy for me to imagine otherwise, but I guess it's just that for me, my pockets usually aren't as deep as most in this hobby, for which I have never, and never will, complain about to anyone - but, 90% of they way there for (in this case) a tenth of the cost was about impossible for me to resist. At least until I finally buy that winning lottery ticket, that is! ;) Cheers.
tmsorosk
1,013 posts
 
Your likely just purchasing to cheap of a preamp. Try the Ayre KX-R, it completely removes itself from the signal path and allows the music to flow.
Friends often compare it to moving up many rows at a concert.
rleff
1,065 posts
 
Have you tried those expensive pre amps in your system?
If you have and your results are as you are posting then who can argue with success.
Its really nice when all matches are lined up.
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