#51
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I'm not against passive preamp/amp combo that are built into a unit like some audio manufacturers do. It's been taken into account and properly designed to work with no impedance issues and no long interconnects since it is all in the same box.
Last edited by PHC1; 12-03-2017 at 02:05 PM. |
#52
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Then it might not work, as I said it can be system dependent
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#53
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"Uncolored" is no less an elusive concept when even "live" recordings are employed as the evaluating source (and I like "live" recordings best in this role myself). That's because mike selection (Schoeps, Neumann, Telefunken, or whatever), mike number and placement, and the production values that go into mixing decisions color the resulting product even before it arrives at the in-home program-source component.
In this context, my take is that what we define as "neutral" is in nearly all cases at most a best guess based on what we think is true to the original source. "Nearly" because I doubt that most of us have access to the performance venue or control room, to say nothing of the mindsets of those at the engineering and production ends, in which the recording birthed. I have three home systems. Two of them utilize an active preamp, one a single-source passive attenuator (thanks, Dan, I like that term better than "preamp" or "line stage", given the unit's function) to feed its respective power amp. I'm happy with the performance of each in its appointed role and place. But I'd note that even the "passive" is colored to the extent that I selected a pot (however high-quality its rep) over a fixed-resistor array and one brand of resistor over another as its output "engine".
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Jim Bedroom: Aurender N150-->Bryston BDA-3-->EMIA Elmaformer Cu passive line stage-->conrad-johnson MF2500-->Paradigm Studio 20 v.5 Wireworld Eclipse IC and SC Shunyata Delta D6, Alpha XC, Delta NR v.2, Alpha USB; Altaira CG Hub Stillpoints Aperture II; Ultra SS; Ultra Mini GIK Monster; 242 Butcher Block Acoustics Maple Platforms |
#54
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Glad I found this thread. I’m slowly building my two channel setup and recently bought a McIntosh mc402. I am slated to buy a c2300 preamp so I can run a streaming device like a Sonica or node2 but both of these can act as preamps which. Now I’m more confused about buying the c2300 after reading this.
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#55
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Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels |
#56
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Your McIntosh MC402 will mate perfectly with the McIntosh C2300 preamplifier. The combination of a tube preamplifier and solid state power amplifier delivers a remarkably satisfying musical presentation. You will not achieve the same level of performance by driving the MC402 directly from the Oppo Sonica. Although the variable analog output stage of the Sonica is decent, it does not rise to the performance level of the C2300 preamplifier. You will get considerabley better performance using the Sonica in Bypass Mode connected via balanced interconnects to the McIntosh C2300. The same can be said of the Bluesound Node 2. As a conrol device to feed an amplifier directly it will fall way short of the C2300 performance and versatility. If your intent is to operate the Sonica or Node 2 wireless to drive whole home speaker systems you will still reap improved two channel performance with your MC402 by including the C2300 in the system.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#57
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#58
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And welcome to AA!
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Stereo: Hegel H590, Grimm Audio MU1, Mola Mola Tambaqui, Burmester 948 - V3 & V6 racks, Vivid Audio G2 Giyas, REL Carbon Special (pair), Silent Angel Bonn N8 Ethernet Switch & Forester F1, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse IC and SE SC, Furutech Digiflux AV: Hegel C-53, Marantz AV8802A, Oppo BDP-203EU, Pioneer Kuro 60", Vivid Audio C1 & V1w's, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse, SE & E Second system (veranda): Halgorythme preamp and monoblocks, Burmester 061, Avalon Avatar, Sharkwire & Wireworld cables |
#59
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Smart decision.
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#60
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I really enjoyed your post. I have also thought of a stereo in photographic terms. My analysis was more of enlarging the negative, yes I’m that old. Take a MC cartridge with an output of 0.5 mV and amplify it many times until the amplifier is putting out 20 volts or about 1000X. The clarity of this “picture “ will depend upon all the magnifying stages. The earlier the distortion the larger the impact upon the picture. The key regarding preamplifiers, as mentioned earlier is that the preamp will buffer the signal from the source (offering a very high impedance) and output a very low impedance signal to the amplifier. This requires a much more robust output stage then is typically found in a source component. Look at how much real estate is used in a typical preamplifier output stage compared to that if a source. I have done the passive preamp, no preamp and high end preamp dance. I will always use a preamp in the future even if I don’t need switching capabilities. Mike S. |
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