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 1 response by runwell

runwell
279 posts
 

The pre DO make the signal large. If the theory is talking  the pre is just let the signal pass,it is wrong!

The signal from the DAC is not  large enough for amplifier, unless the DAC has a pre inside.

The early stage matter! Both the DAC and pre have huge influence on the sound, as a little change in the early stage, there is huge change after the signal pass  the amplifier.

I have a audio lab 8000s integrated to the speaker TANNOY 385,and this integrated has a power in RCA input , so I use audio research LS25 MK I as a pre  to the audio lab 8000S as a power amplifier. Huge different! Even the gain is high than  before.

 

 

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