Tim, I have two friends with Calypso's and both (while sounding big and fun) have a pretty high noise floor, a hiss that sounds like white noise when the music is not playing. If you are used to a low noise floor like me, it might be a hard switch for you, I would not be able to get used to it.
Benchmark LA4 Preamp?
I’m seriously considering buying this $2,500 solid-state preamp and looking for input from anyone who owns or has heard this preamp. The LA4 is identical to their HPA4 unit just without the headphone amp.
From all the reviews and Benchmark’s site that I’ve read, this seems like an extremely low noise and neutral preamp that may be a very good match for my extremely low noise, neutral and high powered class D D-Sonic M3-600-M monoblock amps that I use to drive a pair of Magnepan 2.7QR 4 ohm speakers.
My main source for 2-ch music is a Lumin D2 dac/streamer for music files and Tidal streaming. For HT, I’ll be using a yet to be determined 4K Bluray player as I’m also transforming from an Oppo 105 1080p player and 1080p hdtv to 4K. The LA4 has caught my attention since it has dual balanced XLR inputs to accommodate the XLR outputs of the Lumin D2 and whatever new Bluray player I choose. I plan on ordering the optional remote for the LA4 which would allow easy selection between music or HT as well as being a low noise, low distortion and neutral conduit for both.
I really appreciate any input on the LA4, or even options for a high quality Bluray player with balanced outputs, that you’re able to offer.
Thanks,
Tim
From all the reviews and Benchmark’s site that I’ve read, this seems like an extremely low noise and neutral preamp that may be a very good match for my extremely low noise, neutral and high powered class D D-Sonic M3-600-M monoblock amps that I use to drive a pair of Magnepan 2.7QR 4 ohm speakers.
My main source for 2-ch music is a Lumin D2 dac/streamer for music files and Tidal streaming. For HT, I’ll be using a yet to be determined 4K Bluray player as I’m also transforming from an Oppo 105 1080p player and 1080p hdtv to 4K. The LA4 has caught my attention since it has dual balanced XLR inputs to accommodate the XLR outputs of the Lumin D2 and whatever new Bluray player I choose. I plan on ordering the optional remote for the LA4 which would allow easy selection between music or HT as well as being a low noise, low distortion and neutral conduit for both.
I really appreciate any input on the LA4, or even options for a high quality Bluray player with balanced outputs, that you’re able to offer.
Thanks,
Tim