The Motherload does have a remote and only controls volume.
Suggestions for a holographic preamp?
I'm looking to replacing my Herron Audio tube line stage with something else, not because of a problem with the sound, but for a few other reasons.
I do both digital and analog, and have a Herron Audio tube phono preamp. My power amp is an MSB S-200, which is awesome, and my speakers are Marten Parker Duos, which are wonderful for a deep, holographic soundstage that I like so much.
I listen mostly to rock and reggae, and I'm looking to keep the price under $10K US, and I'm fine with a used one as well.
I get the feeling that I will need a tube preamp to get that holographic sound, but perhaps there are some SS ones that do as good a job?
The fellow I work with at The Music Room suggested a ModWright LS-100 or a used PS Audio BHK preamp; I've researched and they both look like they'd fit the bill, but I'd like to hear your suggestions, too!
Showing 7 responses by soix
In general you want the input impedance of the amp to be 10x the output impedance of the pre. BUT, the impedance varies by frequency and may go higher or lower than the stated number, so to be safe I’d look for the input impedance on the amp to be at least 20x the preamps’s output impedance if possible. In general I think this is more likely to be an issue with tubes than solid state. Hope this helps. |
If it’s a learning universal remote it should be able to learn any code, custom or not. If you like your pre it’s surely worth a try, and again with Amazon if it doesn’t work you can easily return it. I’d try this one for 10 bucks and just see — my guess is it will learn the Herron codes… https://www.amazon.com/Chunghop-Universal-Learning-Function-L336/dp/B07C97YBBC |
@kennyc No, that’s not it at all. Midrange is tonality and holographic is soundstage width, depth, height, and image placement within and throughout that space. Two totally different things. |
@kofibaffour It’s not that a good preamp is adding a 3D, holographic soundstage, ideally it just allows it to come through better if it’s on the recording. Some preamps just do this better than others, and it’s the same with amps, speakers, etc. For example, cheap solid state preamps don’t tend to be able to communicate a holographic soundstage as more accomplished preamps can And yes, a good preamp will sound less holographic with a flat recording if that’s how it was recorded and if it’s truly transparent. But I agree if a pre is artificially boosting this somehow it’s not a good thing, at least for me. I just want to hear what’s really on the recording for better or worse although I know there are those who want a system that makes everything sound good. To each their own. |