2. amps-preamps
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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?
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Showing 2 responses by phcollie

phcollie's avatar
phcollie
342 posts
 
Some subscribe to the theory that the preamp is the "heart" of the system.  Amplification to simply enlarge what is then presented.  For me, the preamp is vital downstream of the DAC but this is driven by personal taste and I like the sound of tubes between the DAC and SS amplifier.
Does this add some distortion, of course. It also adds dimensionality to what otherwise sounds thin to my ears. We are all different I particularly like a little tube distortion. It *feels* good. 
phcollie's avatar
phcollie
342 posts
 
OP,
I had to come back to this thread. I just changed the preamp out of my system for a new to me unit and left everything else the same. Transformative is a massive understatement. This is one of the benefits of separates: The ability to pick one component and go for the home run...upgrading other things as time and budget allows. I may consider an integrated for the bedroom system simply because of space savings. I would sound like a total sound geek shill if I tried to explain all the differences this unit made in my system. My first experience with a true audiophile quality preamp has changed my mindset completely. Cheers.
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