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?
128x128rols

Showing 2 responses by rols

rols's avatar
rols OP
22 posts
 

I ended up treating myself to a pretty high quality preamp: a Mola Mola Makua. 

It did sound better. I like the configurability of it, and that it had an integrated (and really excellent) phono stage.

rols's avatar
rols OP
22 posts
 
Thank you all for the super interesting responses, just what I was hoping for.

I liked the point that a perfect preamp would do nothing to the sound, but what would it cost? Maybe my 1K preamp is far from what it could be. 

A general theme appeared to me that people found running without a preamp made their system sound a bit weak, undramatic. I had noticed this myself years ago, but thought that was just me. Now I have long interconnects (balanced) between pre and power so I can see that I need something to drive that cable.

I think my next treat will be a decent preamp. I am going to hunt around for one with a MC phono section but without an inboard DAC (as I think that technology is still changing fast, and I like the idea of keeping the digital stuff out of a mainly analog box). Something that feels classy to use (as the preamp is mainly what one touches). 

Thanks all for sharing. 
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