2. amps-preamps
  3. 1375199393

Preamp Noise with High-Efficiency Speakers

I have Avantgarde Duo Classic Speakers, I hear a very audible buzzing noise whenever I insert an analog preamp. If I run my DAC (AMR DP-777) directly into power amp, the noise disappears. I have tried 4 different preamps (tube and SS), 3 different amps, a bunch of RCA and XLR interconnects, the problem persists. I have tried dedicated power line and two power conditioners (with Multi-wave options) and various high-quality power cords, so far nothing works, and I am forced to run DAC-direct into power amp. The buzz is not very loud but certainly audible enough to be annoying. There's no noise running the same equipment and power source into regular speakers, I am pretty sure it's just the Avantgarde (104dB sensitivity). Please share your solution if you have had similar situations. Thanks!
yingtonggao
germanboxers's avatar
germanboxers
241 posts
 
Grannyring - just kick it up to the big ring, get out of the saddle, and power
over that voodoo!! Maybe it'll work for you?

In my case, I made the mistake of wearing a Tiki Talisman around my neck
and I too have had to live with a voodoo curse. Incredibly, having a
Concert Fidelity Linestage in between my DAC and amps actually sounds
more real, more live, and more enjoyable than running DAC-direct to amps.
Rather than fight it, I've resigned to just live with it...with a smile on my face.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Like I keep saying.

"By all means you can change the sound to your liking with a active preamp of your choice, this is why ALL ACTIVE PREAMPS SOUND DIFFERENT, as they are not a strait wire with gain"

But if you want to hear the source as it is, go direct this is, a straight wire with no gain.

Cheers George
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,484 posts
 
Germanboxers, glad to see you get the meaning of my username! Cycle on!
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
It seems some prefer a more realistic sound thus the preference for high quality actives.Everything sounds different(not just actives) including passive devices(they have their signatures also) and even going direct the sound varies. Anything inserted into an audio system signal path will make its presence known.So you might as well go with what sounds most real and enjoyable to the individual listener.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Charles1dad Quote:"Anything inserted into an audio system signal path will make its presence known."

That's right, one of the best open/transparent sounds lately I have heard was from a old Musical Fidelity A3/24 dac that has such a beefy output stage (standard) that can give 6watts!!!, (modified output resistor from 47ohm to 1ohm)
This dac was directly attached to a pair of highend 108db horns from Italy (no power amps, no preamps), directly from the dacs output rca's to the speaker terminals.
The more active junk in the signal path the worse/electronic the sound becomes.

Cheers George
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