2. amps-preamps
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CD direct to amp vs active preamp

How many of you folks have ever tried running your digital source with a built in "high grade" volume control directly to your amp and compared that to the digital source feeding your active preamp and then the amp ? I am just curious as to the results and if you noticed any major differences. Obviously, we would have to add not only the preamp, but also another interconnect to make all of the connections. If you've done this "test" with a passive or buffered line section, feel free to join in. Sean
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sean

Showing 2 responses by jameswei

jameswei
883 posts
 
In one of my systems, I'm running a Mark Levinson 390s CD player directly into a Pass Aleph 3. It sounds good. The 390s has an analog volume control. (Digital volume attenuation involves losing data.) Compatibility with the Aleph 3 is fine; I am able to drive it to loud volume levels. (My speakers are Red Rose R3s with a Sunfire True Sub Mark II. Before the R3s, I had good results with Proac 1 SCs.)
jameswei
883 posts
 
Dear Rockhead,

Some CD players have built-in volume controls. These can be operated using knobs or buttons on the CD player or buttons on the CD players' remotes. Often the manufacturer will describe the volume control as digital or analog. Analog is better. Digital works by discarding some musical information to attenuate the volume. This can cause audible degradation in the sound. If your CD player doesn't have volume control capability, you need a preamp or a different CD player.
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