The same question drove me crazy 10 years ago. I had a MCD 301 and I had always the question in mind, what is better, dircetly to the amp or to an preamp?!
That was the reason that I started blind testing with my friends and to set up a small internet page about the results.
We compared MCD 301 direct to MC 252 and MCD 301 to the preamp C45 and than to the MC 252.
At the beginning of the test it was clear for me, that the sound was by far better with the preamp C45. But my son gave me a hint, that we listened both equipment with level 25 but the C45 is with this level by far louder than the MCD 301.
That was the reason, I liked the Sound including the C45 more. Ok, we bought a mic and some measurement advice and since them for a blind test session we try to level the volume. In this case level 25 on the C45 was level 33 with the MCD 301.
And with the same sound pressure level, you could hear no difference at all.
This showed me a big lesson for all testing, especially blind testing, listen always with the same spl, if not the louder source will win.
Bestregards
Martin
Last edited by Barsur; 11-10-2018 at 07:12 AM.
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