2. amps-preamps
  3. 169721-127218

How important is the pre-amp?

Hello all,

Genuine request here for other's experiences.

I get how power amps can make really significant changes to the sound of a system. And of course speakers have an even bigger effect. And then there is the complicated relationship between the speaker and power amp. But I wonder about pre-amps.

In theory a well designed preamp should just act as a source switch and volume control. But does it add (or ruin) magic? Can a pre-amp color the sound? Alter pace and timing? Could you take a great sounding system and spoil it with the wrong preamp? Stereophile once gushed (while reviewing a preamp that cost as much as a car) that the preamp was the heart of the system, setting the tone of everything. Really? Some people don't even bother with a preamp, feeding their DACs straight into the power amp. Others favor passive devices, things without power. If one can get a perfectly good $2K preamp, why bother with 20K?

What your experiences been?
128x128rols

Showing 2 responses by mrklas

mrklas
441 posts
 
In my experience yes. 
Specifically, I added a preamp to a system with DAC, turntable and integrated amp.  
I negotiated an at home trial with McIntosh C2600 and it made a distinct difference.  Why, I don’t know. 
Would this experience be true with all preamps?  I don’t know either. 
mrklas
441 posts
 
A preamp can make a big difference - positive or negative - in my experience.

This weekend I auditioned some equipment for my system.  I am interested in purchasing a more powerful amplifier.

My situation is I have a McIntosh C 2600 preamp and McIntosh MC 302 amp with Moon 280D DAC and Rega P8 turntable.

I chose to listen to McIntosh MC462 and Moon 330A (with the intention of buying 2 and using as a mono block. 

The test system was McIntosh C2700 with the Moon 280D and Rega P8.
 I also had Moon 390P available to listen to the impact of the improved DAC and the difference of a solid state preamp.  My rationale was to test any synergies of using the same brand.

My experience was unexpected:

1.  I preferred the Moon amplifier.  I felt it provided more details especially with delicate sounds or when there's a long of different music going on such as part of David Bowie's Let's Dance and during Black Sabbath War Pigs.   I felt the highs were a bit 'brighter' with the Moon.  Potential for harshness so I listened to a variety of recordings and my conclusion was the McIntosh provided a bit more mids such as around voices and there was less clarity when things were busy.  The Moon was better and having congruent yet details in all the music. 

Given that I did a sound comparison between using just the Moon amplification. 

2.  Tested the sonic difference between Moon 280 D and Moon 390 just as a DAC.  The 390 has more detail - aligned with the product placement.

3.  Used the 390 as a preamp instead of the McIntosh.  The sound impact was more details and delicacy.  I recently upgraded from Sonus Sonetto V to Olympica Nova V - the clarity in details was that significant.  Note preamps are different philosophy tube versus solid state.  

My take away- preamps make a difference as does the whole system (Millercarbon states it regularly and I observed it as well).

Can a quality integrated amp sound great?  Yes and better is going to be a personal preference. 

Enjoy the journey. 
More to discover