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Best Preamp and Amp combination, interesting finding!!!

Hi all,

Yesterday, I decided to conduct a very interesting experience using my amp and preamp combinations. In the interest of fair discussion and also avoiding brand war, please allow me to conceal the name of the amps and preamps, knowing that both amps and preamps came from the same manufactures. The combinations are as below: 

Combination 1 (C1): $3000 preamp + $1000 amp
Combination 2 (C2): $1000 preamp + $3000 amp.

I went back and forth between C1 and C2 several times with multiple people, using the same speakers and DAC. The volume of both C1 and C2 was adjusted to be equal using my Db meter. 
At the end of the experience, almost everyone including me prefers C1. Which is a higher-end preamp combined with the lower-end amp. 
I was surprised by that finding. I always thought that the amp has a greater impact to sound quality, but my experiment proved otherwise. If you have any similar experiences, please let me know. I would like to understand why it happens that way. Why the preamp has a greater impact on the overall sound quality comparing to the amp?
viethluu

Showing 1 response by james633

james633
1,051 posts
 
Good write up. 
The volume control has one of the biggest potentials to mess up your sound. This is the critical part of the preamp. 

I have found amps don’t really pull away from cheaper amps until the $6000+ range. $10,000 amps sound a lot better than $3000 generalized of course (there are some cheap super stars) but $1000 amps might not be too different from $3000 amps. Sometimes the price difference is mostly case work. 
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