2. amps-preamps
  3. 1038091302

How can an active preamp possibly help?

When I pipe the line level out from my CD player straight into my variable gain amp, I must turn down my amp from unity gain lest I blow out my ears. If this is the case, what value can an active preamp possibly be adding? The signal from the CD player is already "too loud" for the amp.

This leads me to question why an active preamp is needed at all. Switching and volume I understand, but can someone please explain how an active preamp amplifying the signal before it gets to the amp helps the finished product sound better (especially in light of my it's-already-too-loud example).

Thanks!
matt8268

Showing 1 response by garfish

garfish
1,840 posts
 
A tubed pre-amp can/does produce much more natural sounding music than CD direct to amp, IMO. My 6 tube pre-amp adds liquidity, warmth, body, and richness, and all these things are properties of live music-- and I've played guitars-- both acoustic and amplified for 40 years.

Soundstaging may be an artifact of stereo imaging, but I like it, and I like it a LOT, and tubes do it better than anything else I've heard. But on balance, it really comes down to personal preferences. I like tubed pre-amps. Cheers. Craig
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