2. digital
  3. 1022603345

Capitole owners- any benefits to external preamp??

I drive a pair of monoblock tube amps direct with my Capitole CDP, however, it has come to my attention that some owners have found better performance using a high quality external preamp (they have alluded to the fact that the analog volume control in the Cap may not be the best). Any thoughts on this? If you HAVE found a benefit w preamp in the chain, please post WHAT preamp you are using (and IC's too).
sutts

Showing 3 responses by mikelavigne

mikelavigne
2,207 posts
 
even though the volume control in the Capitole Version 1 is not the last word in transparency and neutrality it does add to the "bloom" and "layering" that is part of the attraction of the Capitole. so i think the decision to use a passive pre such as the Placette is very system dependent.

it also is somewhat a matter of taste. i've heard the Capitole's sound described as somewhat like "analog", which the volume control contributes some to.

if your system is on the lean side of neutral or maybe solid state amplification the volume control in the Capitole may be perfect. in my system i did prefer using the Placette with the volume control in the Capitole turned up to "unity gain" which resulted in greater detail and timbral texture, and a more transparent soundstage....YMMV.
mikelavigne
2,207 posts
 
Sutts, i'm sorry if i was not very clear, i interpret "cranking it all the way up" as "unity gain" and i just cranked it all the way up.

i use Valhalla XLR interconnects before and after the Placette.
mikelavigne
2,207 posts
 
Sutts, what can i say?.... a guys gotta do what a guys gotta do. in the context of my system the whole combination of interconnects and Placette makes sense. it replaced a Levinson #32 and sounds better..... and i had money left over to contribute to other toys.

i think most systems would have similar tradeoffs at whatever level they are.
More to discover