2. amps-preamps
  3. 125908-371

Active and passive preamp in one chain ?

As I just discovered, my Redgum integrated amp has a passive preamp in it. No wonder, I don't have enough gain and consequencially not enough weight in sound when playing records. A lot of transparency though. To compensate I currently run phono/cassette deck/ Redgum at the silght expense of resolution.
How would it be if I added, say, some tube active preamp? No, not ready to go fully separates at the moment. Running MM cartridge and phono gain setting is fixed at 46db, I think. In other words, replacing deck as a sort of an active preamp with a true active preamp.
inna

Showing 3 responses by xrayz

xrayz
105 posts
 
The only input impedance I can find for your amp is 10K ohms. That's pretty low and it will cut down on your choices for a preamp. Also, if the amp section is designed for a passive pre, the voltage output of an active pre could very well overload the amp. I would write to Redgum and see what they have to say.
xrayz
105 posts
 
I went to a McCormack DNA-1 and I think the little Mapletree tube pre, don't remember the model right now. Then a lot more tube preamps and a couple different power amps along the way. Now I'm back to an integrated lol.  (Music Culture 701)
xrayz
105 posts
 
@inna  I took a quick look at The Rogue preamps' output impedance and they all seem low enough that impedance mismatches shouldn't be a problem. It looks like your idea should work, it just seems so unusual. I'm not a tech guy either, and I'm not sure how trying this would actually sound. Is there any other phono preamp that could give you more gain? I'm sure there are others on here who could give you much better ideas than I.

I used to have a Redgum integrated too, and the people there were extremely nice and helpful whenever I wrote them. They may have some sort of simple answer to your problem. Good luck.
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