2. amps-preamps
  3. 191420-193414

Need suggestions on preamp

I’m mainly a headphone listener so when I got the chance to purchase a pair of Magnepan LRS speakers near my home town, I ran with it. I love Maggies and their midrange smoothness and live performance feel. I was able to find a used Parasound A21 for $1200 on Marketplace which was replacing my Adcom 545. I’m now running into a dilemma where I think the Adcom 545 sounded more detailed to me. I listen to a lot of instrumental music that I know well and I’m not getting the same level of detail as I’m getting with my headphone setup which is running balanced from my RME ADI-2 DAC. I’m using more expensive Audience AU-SX interconnects on those but even when running the RME direct into the amp (since it has volume control) I’m not getting the level of resolution I’m used to with my headphone setup (Hifiman HE1000 with a Serbian Audio HSA-1B amp).

I think the issue might be related to my preamp. I bought a Schiit Saga+ and despite running good NOS tubes or trying out passive mode I’m not getting the resolution I’m looking for. I’m looking for a recommendation on a preamp that costs between $1,000-$2,000 that will max out the resolution of the Parasound while keeping it’s effortless flow and naturalness in tact. Maybe the problem is the speakers and I really should have gone for the LRS+ or 1.7s? I know the room plays a huge role with Maggies but I live in a small apartment so for now I’m looking for any suggestions that can be fixed with gear. Thanks for any help!

hikaru126

Showing 2 responses by soix

soix
10,186 posts
 

I’m thinking of getting a Conrad Johnson preamp and calling it a day. At least that preamp should grow with me if I decide to go with some other posters suggestions of going with the brighter Monitor Audio. 

That’s not a good idea if you’re looking for the level of detail your headphones produce.  The Monitor Audio speakers aren’t bright per se — like your headphones they’re neutral and detailed and not bright (which is precisely why I recommended them) unless you pair them with bright/shrill electronics.  The CJ preamp will squelch the exact detail you’re craving, and paired with the already warm-sounding Parasound is just going further in the wrong direction IMHO.  The simplest thing would be to sell the Parasound and buy something like a Hegel integrated.  You bought the wrong amp for the sound profile you’re looking for, so better to just accept that and move on than just make more mistakes around it and make things worse.  I’m not familiar with your Maggies, but if they’re not capable of producing the level of detail you’re looking for with more neutral electronics than they should go too otherwise you’ll just never achieve what you’re looking for and never be completely happy. 

soix
10,186 posts
 

I’ve got Hifiman Arya Stealths so have an idea of the level of detail you’re looking for, and I was able to get there with my big rig so it’s definitely doable and highly doubt the preamp is the limiting factor here. I think the amp and possibly the speakers are the source of the problem as the Parasound, although a good amp, is reputed to be on the warm side. I had this Bryston pre paired with a similar McCormack amp to the one below and would highly recommend them given what you’re looking for.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650097052-bryston-bp-6-preamp-with-oem-remote-in-like-new-condition/

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650135552-mccormack-smc-audio-ultra-15-dna-1-power-amplifier-upgraded/

Pair them with speakers like these Monitor Audio Silvers (or maybe monitors since you have a small room) and you’ll likely get all the detail you’re missing along with excellent imaging/3D soundstage. Just some ideas FWIW, and best of luck in getting what you’re looking for.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649989850-monitor-audio-silver-300-6g/

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