As noted above, transformers seem key. After ten years’ pleasure from a valve phono-line stage preamp I ordered a TVC yesterday after a months trial in my system. With high efficiency loudspeakers and an SET listening to LP’s and FM radio, stripping away the many feet of wire, Audio Note caps, resistors, valves, and mains electricity of an active pre has effected greatly more clarity and presence. Omitting all that charged material, I can enjoy the effects of less noise, not least, startling delicacy of sound. Made entirely by a valve amplifier manufacturer that winds its own (copper) transformers and silver internal wiring, this unit seems very well designed (Audion. I have no connection with them). It offers very nearly the weight, huge soundstage and all the colour of sound of my valve pre. I wouldn’t go back to a powered device. It took me a month to decide. I heard it in the first half minute.
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?
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?