Choosing a preamplifier - synergy vs. matching components

apollinaire

... Should system synergy be the priority, or can better sound be achieved by carefully selecting and matching individual components?

I think that's a distinction without a difference.

Assuming you like the Yamamoto Sound Craft sound, I think you have the lowest risk. Matching dissimilar sounding equipment to get the sound you want is a real challenge... and particularly if you can’t listen to them. In this case virtual impossible. You can look at my main system. After upgrading and learning for fifty years it is interesting to note all the equipment is from the same manufacturer and incredibly synergistic.

Recently I saw a thread where someone had taken very etched "accurate" sounding components and mixed them with very warm components and hit the perfect sound... something like Benchmark, PS Audio and Pass. But... wow that could so easily not have worked out. I instantly recognized what he had done... amazing... I could almost hear it.

I have a theory... that I couldn’t possibly prove about synergy, err... lack of. It is that of subtraction. If your component string has a different sound quality lets say... very detailed, very warm, then very detailed, then very warm (say, Streamer, DAC, Preamp, Amp) then each subsequent component is loosing something. So, the DAC is dropping some detail in order to be warm... etc. So, the very best you can do (if the components sound like you want them to) is to have all the components voiced the same.

Long ago I chose an audio research preamp, then a few years later and Audio Research Preamp, then amp and finally DAC. Each caused a big jump in sound quality and I think synergy. The final piece... something I was not looking for and did not want... my dealer dropped it by and said I really ought to try it, was a no brainer... the sound quality jump was simply jaw dropping. It just had to be synergy.

I would recommend doing your phono preamp, cart and possibly an SUT or head amp if you really need one, all at once. As far as matching components goes, you have to get that right. I think someone else mentioned going with one brand. That's not a bad idea. On one of my TT's, I have a DV cart and phono preamp. They weren't all that expensive, but they sound like it. The cart is a LOMC, and you have to be really careful because a lot can go wrong if you don't match them properly. I'm pretty sure that if I didn't use the same brand, I would have probably needed to get an SUT. Also, if you don't have a lot of experience with low output carts, there's no shame in using a good dealer that specializes in vinyl. There's still a few out there that are really good. 

Going with one brand allows you to double up on its strengths. Of course, you are also doubling down on its weaknesses. I don't think there are hard and fast rules and I don't think synergy is dependent on staying within a brand family. Impossible to reasonably compare two (or more) alternatives without hearing them. If you buy without an audition, staying in a brand family should be a safer bet-but still a gamble.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I can see that there's a lot to get in terms of synergy and then it requires to choose your brand carefully. 

I really like Audio Note but the price has amazed me quite a few times and I believe I can get more value for money proceeding with amplifiers from Yamamoto (Shindo, Audio Tekne, Sakuma (when it was available) Abbas, Swissonor and brands alike). As I wrote in my previous post I fully understand the cost of driving an enterprise with an enormous product catalogue where each item comes in many variations (Balanced, Signature, RIAA, Phono, Line, etc.). Therefore please do not interpret this as criticism of Audio Note, because I do adore the sound of their products. 

I’d put the amp in your system first, let it burn in for a couple hundred hours, and then see what you think.  If the amp, say, adds just enough warmth then adding their pre may be too much of a good thing.  Wait to see how it sounds and then see what direction sonically you wanna go with the preamp.  I’d always side with a separate phono pre — it’s too important, and rarely will the phono pre in a preamp compare to a good separate unit.  FWIW, and best of luck. 

Should system synergy be the priority, or can better sound be achieved by carefully selecting and matching individual components?

There is no universal truth.  Sometimes there is a significant synergy between preamp and amp like Audio Research, but non-matching brand success can be achieved with other brands.

Is it preferable to choose an integrated preamp with a phono stage, or is it better to go with separate components?

Integrated components save money in casework and cabling. It’s less flexible for future upgrades as both the preamp and phono must be changed together.  The sonic quality of the built in phono is also important.

Separate components cost more in casework and cabling, but is expected to perform better as external phono stages typically perform better than internal phono offerings.

How does a SUT (Step-Up Transformer) factor into this?

It changes the sonic profile usually subjectively for the better.  The OPs Denon 103R and at least the stone Koetsu are known to sonically benefit from SUTs which must be used with “voltage” phono stages.  Obviously a SUT is an additional expense, and SUT using silver can be pricey