"Neutral" as compared to what?
Who set the industry standard baseline reference as to what neutral really is.
This is the funnest and funniest part of the whole (hole) discussion. 🤣
What qualities stand out in really good solid state preamps?
Recently I posted on the Herron HL-1, asking people what they thought, how it compared, etc. It's been sold and that's ok. The search continues.
But it raises a question I'd like to ask folks:
What attributes do you look for in a good solid state preamp?
Some qualities — quietness, durability, seem pretty obvious.
But what other criteria do you use to differentiate between solid state preamps?
How can they differ and what matters to you?
Please let me know!
P.S. As I've looked around, I've begun to learn more about some of the legendary preamps — made by companies such as Threshold, Ayre, Bryston, Pass, Apt-Holman, and others. It's good to have these names as references, but it would be even more useful if I knew what these brands conveyed, sonically. I've played with the idea of getting a newer Schiit preamp and then I wonder -- what if there's a "classic" preamp out there, used? What would it deliver that was worth searching for?
Showing 5 responses by decooney
Following your lead, here is a simple view and question, and not too complicated. The XP12, XP22, XP33, each sounds different. And for some audiophiles, the next version is better than the last, and so they upgrade and sell the prior version. -or- If anyone else cares to respond, feel free to chime in - Are the earlier versions less neutral than current versions, and what makes the latest versions of Pass Labs preamplifiers more neutral, or better, or different enough to want to make the next-level-up upgrade?
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It’s kind of interesting that Paul of PS Audio was dead set against tubes for a long time.We are talking about someone who led the charge for solid state for decades. Now the story about how the late Bascom H. King (BHK) finally talked Paul into using "TUBES" on the input stage of his amplifiers, and then TUBES in his BHK preamplifier. Why Paul says, "because it sounds better". Now he agrees. All tube or hybrid with tube in the preamp, how PS Audio -or how Linear Tube Audio does it is fun to explore and test out. Finding a suitable (new era) solid state preamp that sounds "natural", and does not break the bank, is fun and time consuming research project. Best of luck to all here in that hunt, enjoy! :)
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For a component that is "supposed to be neutral", "adding nothing", looking at history of threads and posts over the past 15-20 years on this Audiogon site, seeing just how many of the same long-term members here have bought / tried / resold so many different preamplifiers or line stages. Kind of a surprise, actually. Search for any of the mainstream preamps we all know out there, and you might just find a repeat of comments we see here on this thread. I tend to believe some folks just like to rotate gear, and you’ll see comments like "I should have never sold that preamp". Isn’t neutral just neutral, well maybe not. Perhaps that old preamp was that good, adding something more than nothing. :)
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So true, being near Pass Labs 30m away, lots of it around here - I’ve also helped a few even try and buy a few different cables and sources and dacs instead of getting on the upgrade merry-go-round, to then see those same people jump again to nice tube preamps. I needed confirmation from the man myself that my own 6SN7 preamp would be a decent match for an upcoming Pass/Forte’ mod project I was planning. I chatted some with Nelson about this 4-5 years back, and the following year he came out with the NuTube Korg kit for those who wanted to try something else. It might be fun to find out if the XP12 could be modded some, trying that, or this, as another approach fwtw. Just batting around some other ideas.
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