2. amps-preamps
  3. 188305-139155

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?

128x128hilde45

Showing 1 response by jji666

Ag insider logo xs@2x
jji666
454 posts
 

I’m surprised at the lack of focus on the relationship between the preamp and the amp. In my experience, the electrical characteristics of the preamp’s output and the amp’s input has had the greatest influence on getting good SQ out of the match.

That of course assumes decent gear. But I would bet a lot of what people are hearing and experiencing isn’t really inherent in the preamp, but rather the combination with the power amp. Lesser but still true with the relationship between the source and the preamp - my phono stage has a hot output and some of the preamps simply haven’t like it.  It's a bad match with my Levinson. 

In terms of SS, I have a Bryston, a classic Levinson ML-26, and an Emotiva. I use the last one the most, for daily low volume listening, because it has more true balanced connections that I find easy to switch around, but clearly the Levinson sounds best for focused listening. When I really want to rock out, I’ll go for the tube BAT preamp as I am loving the old stock tubes I’ve rolled into it.

More to discover