Seeking Amp / Preamp Upgrades

If you do not want your preamp to add anything to the sound, then a Benchmark LA4 preamp at $2500 is what I use. I want to get a second LA4 to replace a CODA 07x that I am selling which adds some warmth to the sound. The CODA 07x is highly regarded and more expensive but I have a new outlook on preamps.

I feel like a neutral preamp is the way I will go from now on. This is not necessarily the right way, just my way. In my 2 systems, I have a warm amp, a KRELL 175XD, and a super neutral amp, a Benchmark AHB2. My preference is to hear the amp and the source and keep the preamp out of it.

Benchmark has a 30-day home trial that can be used to see if neutrality is the way to go for you. A Topping pre90 ($799) ls like the LA4 but I owned it too and cannot recommend it due to volume problems with some amps.

All other preamps require you to figure out if the sonic ingredients are cumulatively tasty. This can be a fun and challenging exercise if the gear is not from the same vendor.

BTW - another preamp to demo is the Schitt Freya+, not the most detailed, but with a neutral amp I thought it was very good. It cost $1000 and has a 15-day home trail. I sold it be because it added to the sound.

@hifi63nc The Topping pre90 that one can get for about $350 is used as the reference preamp for one of the Stereophile reviewers. He is the one that wrote the review on Stereophile. Soundnews.net has a better review of the pre90.

I sold my unit because it only worked with 2 pieces. However, when it does work it is really good (neutral and incredibly quiet).

The folllowing combo is something that may work for you. I had this in the house for a month and it was really good (I listed used prices).

- Topping pre90 (used $350)

- Parasound A21+ ($2500)

The Topping pre90 also worked great for me with the Benchmark AHB2 but I do not recommend that for you. Too neutral for most people.

The A21+ is a warmish amp with power and drive. I really liked it. I only traded it in to get the KRELL 175XD which is more refined, but I was enjoying the A21+ when I ran it with the pre90. This is not reference quality sound but for the price is very good. Actually, i recommended this combo to someone else and they wrote back to me saying how much they liked it.

@tjag The LA4 and HPA4 will not enhance the sound in anyway, nor does the Topping pre90. If specs are something you look at it is hard to find another preamp that is quieter.

The $10K DAC is known to be good DAC direct to amp. However, I would ALWAYS use the LA4 with any DAC. It is just one person’s experience that I wrote about. I think the digital volume control in a DAC is always subpar compared to a preamp, especially the LA4’s.

Benchmark HPA4 Review – The One to rule them All! (soundnews.net)

That review on Soundstage was a terrible review of the LA4. The reviewer liked the LA4 but he did not do a good job in the review. The review on Soundnews.net is more informative. Tha guy uses a full Benchmark stack with KEF Reference 3. That is someone with the same tastes as me, and a much better audio writer than me.

The NOVA is good for the price, but the Benchmark gear for me is reference quality gear. The NOVA’s amp section was much better than the preamp and DAC sections. I tested out all 3 while waiting for a new preamp and DAC shipment t arrive.

If the Benchmark AHB2 had a volume control, maybe like the Bryston pro gear, it maybe something that would negate the need for a preamp, if you only had 1 source. I have 4 sources connected to the preamp, 2 tuners and 2 DACs.

Benchmark has a 30-day home trial period.