Am I crazy - tube pre-amp with receiver??


Hi - I am a newbie (but avid reader of this forum). I have a newbie-like question which arose from some extrapolating I am doing.

I hear you can use the TAD-150 pre-amp with the TA-30 Integrated amp, by using the TA-150 as input to the TA-30, and just leaving the volume knob of the T-30 turned up. I hear that this is supposed to provide some sort of benefit over using the TA-30 alone. What one gets outside of remote control is not clear to me - but I digress . .

I have an old Harman/Kardon 3400 reciver, who's remote control no longer works.

Now - what would happen if I plugged something like the TAD-150 pre-amp into the H/K, and used by H/K as an amp (just keep the volume turned up)? The desired result is to improve performance, incrementally work towards a better system, and regain my remote control.

Would this work? Would I see any benefit?

This weekend, I was told by a stereo salesperson that one could get the majority of tube amplification benefits by going with a tube pre-amp / SS amplifier. So I am putting 2 and 2 together here, possibly to only get 1. Ha.

Regardless, the whole point is to incrementally upgrade - and this is one way I came up with. Thoughts? Is this stupid / insane / waste of time & money?
matthew_s
Finally - home sweet home.

Bigjoe - checked the back of the h/k - no dice - no pre-amp bypass. Thanks for the suggestion.

John_tracy - thanks for the encouragement. I suppose I will go with speakers first. I guess I'll keep thinking of how to update the amp / pre-amp. I may yet try to use a pre-amp into my receiver, if I find a good deal here.

Thanks.
Hi,
If you need remote for volume control, try this Jolida passive pre (make sure to use very short interconnects):

http://www.responseaudio.com/jolida%20sources.htm

It's only $240.

Creek makes a remote volume control to for a bit more (but shaped more like 1/2 the length of a small shoebox).

I'm considering the Jolida for a similar amp I just got this week, the PrimaLuna (the Cayin was out of stock).

Just a few minutes ago I had my reciever's tape out hooked up to the Prima so that I could at least control my tuner stations, source selections , and CD controls. But I got some low volume hum caused by the long CD cable connecting to the receiver. Got rid of the cable and the hum at the same time.
What is the difference between a "passive-pre" and an "active-pre"?

Also - what is the definition of a "line stage" amp?

Thanks!
"passive pre": a volume control only (aka "attenuator"), offers no gain. The device can also allow switching b/ween diferent sources. As such, "passive" preamplifier is a misnomer/ contradiction: passive devices do not amplify
"Line stage": (pre) amplification of all sources (cd, tuner, etc) EXCEPT phono. The phono requires a special filter.
Cheers
Thanks.

Two more questions (one objective, and probably subjective):

1) If passive-pre's "work" - why have an active pre? What is it doing?

2) Is it true that one can get the majority of the tube benefit by employing a tube pre-amp with a solid state amp?

Thanks.