With Or Without A Preamp...

[thesaint519]

Hello AA comrades,

I need to solicit help from the collective intelligence about this matter. I'm currently running a dCS stack (Purcell/Delius) front end, which pull double duty as my preamp. They are feeding my Lamm M1.2s directly. The sound is hypnotic & quite satisfying - due, in no small part, to the addition of Transparent Reference cabling all around. I know there are two schools of thought on the matter. However, I'd like to hear from any who have had real world experience with running direct (without a preamp), and running with a preamp in the signal chain. Thoughts ?

[chessman]

I like a preamp in the chain, but if your sound is "hypnotic & quite satisfying" I would invoke the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it rule."

[thesaint519]

Originally Posted by chessman

I like a preamp in the chain, but if your sound is "hypnotic & quite satisfying" I would invoke the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it rule."

Why do u like a preamp on the chain? In this hobby of ours good is usually never good enough, is it?

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by chessman

I like a preamp in the chain, but if your sound is "hypnotic & quite satisfying" I would invoke the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it rule."

Very well said Randy !

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[joeinid]

I've always preferred a preamp in the chain. I hear more detail w/o a preamp, but to me, it's less musical and more analytical.

[Jerome W]

A variable output in a cd player or a dac IS a preamp, often of lower quality than a separate preamp. That is why, most often, a dedicated preamp will be more musical.

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[cmalak]

Personally, I don't think there is a hard and fast rule here. It all depends on the components you are using and the synergy between them. I know that is not a satisfying answer but I will bet you one can put together a system without a preamp that surpasses a system with a preamp in the chain and vice versa. So not sure you can make an absolute statement one way or the other.

[Jerome W]

Originally Posted by joeinid

I've always preferred a preamp in the chain. I hear more detail w/o a preamp, but to me, it's less musical and more analytical.

The C1000P gives the same amount of details than the MDA 1000 variable outputs, but with much more musicality and naturalness.

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[chessman]

Originally Posted by thesaint519

Why do u like a preamp on the chain? In this hobby of ours good is usually never good enough, is it?

I can't seem to find "good enough."

For me the preamp offered several things, as follows:

1) I like the concept of the preamp as "control amp," getting a very tight grip on very slight voltages. My listening experience with mine in my room was that the sound stage was wider, airier, and more detailed.

2) I wanted to bring the sound of my speakers one tick off of neutral towards warm. I did not want the sound syrupy sweet, but I did want it lusher. When I added the tube preamp, I achieved the "delicious" sound that Alberto speaks of - detailed, emotionally involving, resolving, but not fatiguing.

3) I wanted the additional connectivity. I run a CD player, a turntable, a iPhone dock, and a surround sound processor through the various ports in the preamp.

I am a huge believer in system synergy, which means that my solution may not be right for your setup, or even mine if I made gear changes. I thought a lot and researched a lot to try to acquire a "system" that integrated well. I had assumed that BAT had voiced the preamp and amp as a pair for a reason, went for it, and was very happy with the result.

Hope that helps. I have no cure for upgradeitis, although I, too, am a long time sufferer.

[bzr]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Personally, I don't think there is a hard and fast rule here. It all depends on the components you are using and the synergy between them. I know that is not a satisfying answer but I will bet you one can put together a system without a preamp that surpasses a system with a preamp in the chain and vice versa. So not sure you can make an absolute statement one way or the other.

Cyril gets my vote & it is exactly what I found