Preamp - what's the purpose?


Intentionally dumb question...

I've heard various 5-15W tube amps in my room. EL84, 300B, etc. They all have input stages and the output stage. I send them a line-level signal from a DAC.

Sitting a few meters away from my loudspeakers, the first watt alone gives me roughly 80db of volume. I think these amps are biased to expect the line level signal directly. Why wouldn't the designer do that?

So what's the point of adding a pre-amp? Why do people do it?

thanks in advance

 

clustrocasual

Showing 1 response by asvjerry

Been without a pre for over a decade now without withdrawal symptoms, so you might say I’ve survived....sorry ’bout that...Not. *g*

One analog 6x6 matrix, one digital 6x6 includes video & optical, 2 digital eq’s (one for the space, other for whatever)....that’s most of a pre, anyway.

Was gifted with a nice older one ’while back, but looping it in ’proper’ calls for a major physical re-arrange and some more IC spaghetti....

Only been asked once "Why isn’t this up against the wall?"

😒 "C’mere...look...."

"Oh...."

’Puters and amp have their own line cords. all else is low watts & amps on a 3rd line. You can guess the rest...;)