@hilde45 please remind me which active preamp you are currently using and whether or not your new DAC has a volume control. If it does, have you tried running it straight into your amp (make sure you significantly lower the volume!) and noted what you gained or lost compared to having the preamp in the system? I apologize if you already did this.
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 6 responses by jc4659
@hilde45 Exactly. Just because a preamp can throw an expansive and transparent soundstage with properly placed performers left to right and front to back does not necessarily mean those performers are life-like with body and meat on the bones. For me, it's a matter of 2-dimensional versus 3-dimensional images (performers) and what I am still trying to ascertain from those who own the Holo Serene KTE. This solid state preamp is described as neutral, dynamic, transparent and very revealing but does it present the performers in a 3-dimensional way way with a body attached to their voice or instrument? I have owned the Ayre K-5xeMP mentioned above and it is an excellent preamp but it wasn't until I replaced it with the Ayre K-1xe that performers (images) had a more 3-D and round presentation in space. In short, the music was more believable (for me, in my room, with my equipment). So, tubes or solid state I am looking for the same things: a believable presentation of music by real performers in real space. LIVE is the reference. |
@yyzsantabarbara The Holo Serene is said to have excellent holographic soundstage qualities though perhaps this is more a reflection of upstream and downstream gear and cables since the pre is very neutral. Would you characterize the soundstage in your main system as having "palpable presence"? I am just so intrigued by this preamp but never heard it and don't know anyone locally that has one. |
@robshaw Thanks for that info! I will read up on the LA-4. I am currently using a Pass X350.5 amp. |
@hilde45 "2. I recently compared two SS preamps and heard differences between them." If one of those preamps was more neutral than the other then you may have been hearing the cumulative effects of your source, amp and wires rather than contributions from the preamp. Two solid state preamps come to mind that others have described (in other forums here and in reviews elsewhere) as neutral or near-neutral and very transparent are the Benchmark LA-4 and the Holo Audio Serene. These should enable you to compare amps better than your tubed preamp. I recently removed an excellent solid state preamp from the chain and was amazed by what I heard. Now I am trying to decide if I should keep the preamp out of the chain and only use it when I listen to my phono front end, look for a different, completely neutral preamp, or go for a tubed preamp to ADD certain colorations that are desirable TO ME. Tough one. |
@hilde45 Thanks, I think I saw on another forum that you owned a deHavilland pre. This whole neutrality thing seems to have discussions going around in circles. My use of the term was more restricted to having the opportunity to listen to music with and without a preamp in the path, all other parts being the same. A DAC with a volume control is one way to do this. It can show you how the preamp may be contributing to the overall sound or if it is not changing it at all. Absolute neutrality seems impossible to ascertain since you would need to have the live recording event as a reference. After that, the sound we hear from our systems is guaranteed to be different. It gets "seasoned" by engineers, mixing/recording equipment, and playback gear including acoustic space. When I remove my solid state preamp I like what I hear; just trying to decide what kind of seasoning, if any, I might want to add. It's a subjective thing for sure but for me it's both visceral and emotional. I know it when I hear it. The objective attributes I look for have been mentioned by others above. My reference will always be real people playing real instruments in a real space. |