Matching preamp for Pass Labs Aleph 5


Looking to match a preamp with the Pass Labs Aleph 5 (60W). My CD is a Naim CD5,cables are Cardas,and speakers are Audio Physic TempoIIs(a little bass shy and bright). Something active or tubed with warmth and detail. Tried a Pass Aleph L passive but flat in the lows among other things. A tube preamp must have higher output impedance since the Aleph 5's input impedance is very low (14 Ohms). Thanks
johnmilner

Showing 1 response by gunbei

Last summer I borrowed an Aleph 3 which has an input imedance of 23K Ohm single ended only and had a some difficulty pushing it with Blue Circle BC21 tube preamp.

I greatly enjoyed the sound of the Aleph mated to the BC21 but its inability to crank prevented me from buying it. I felt it did acoustic guitars better than any of the other amps I was comparing it to.

I believe the input impedance of the Aleph 5 is 10K Ohms unbalanced and 25K Ohms balanced. So you'll probably have varying results depending on which preamp you try and whether it is balanced or single ended.