Reference 5 SE preamp

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by jdebonth

BillK - your experience with adding a preamp to the chain mirror my own. If a source component has an analogue output stage capable of driving a power amp (there are not many) then there is nothing to be gained from a preamp besides filtering and coloration, neither of which bring you closer to the music.

Joost...I think it is highly dependent on the quality of the output stage of the source component you are using. Most often times, the output stage of the source is less than stellar. So often times, bypassing that by inserting a high quality preamp is beneficial to the overall sonic picture. There may be some sonic trade-offs by inserting another set of interconnects, all the additional circuitry of the volume control and active gain stage of a preamp but more often than not, I have found that unless you have an extremely over engineered source component with a very high quality analog output stage, that a high quality preamp is better in the chain than not. Of course the other key functionality of a preamp is to accomodate more than a single source and so there may be no way around it anyway depending on one's system and number of sources used.

[microstrip]

Originally Posted by jdebonth

BillK - your experience with adding a preamp to the chain mirror my own. If a source component has an analogue output stage capable of driving a power amp (there are not many) then there is nothing to be gained from a preamp besides filtering and coloration, neither of which bring you closer to the music.

My experience goes in the other sense - a good preamplifier always got me closer to the music if the system around it is properly matched.

I know this point is controversial - perhaps I never found the proper source!

[thesaint519]

Before too long I'll be able to do an A/B/A test to see how much my system changes by adding a preamp. Right now I'm running my dCS directly into my amps. The sounds is phenomenal. However, I hope to add a Lamm L2 preamp to the mix in the not too distant future. We'll see what happens.

[Kingsrule]

Originally Posted by jdebonth

BillK - your experience with adding a preamp to the chain mirror my own. If a source component has an analogue output stage capable of driving a power amp (there are not many) then there is nothing to be gained from a preamp besides filtering and coloration, neither of which bring you closer to the music.

Not exactly as BillK is using a digital volume for comparison
When using a Wadia as a volume control, there is a very small sweet spot where it doesn't introduce digital artifacts into the output. Having owned a 861 and 861SE for many years, it is almost impossible to set the gain
to where it is optimal for the particular system it is installed in therefore adding its own form of coloration....

[BillK]

Originally Posted by g997

When using a Wadia as a volume control, there is a very small sweet spot where it doesn't introduce digital artifacts into the output. Having owned a 861 and 861SE for many years, it is almost impossible to set the gain
to where it is optimal for the particular system it is installed in therefore adding its own form of coloration....

I hear no artifacts from my S7i at any volume level above 65 or so.

[Kingsrule]

Not sure where the level gets good but I believe Wadia says above 85...

[MadFloyd]

Does the Ref SE switch the volume to 0 when changing inputs (as it did on the Ref 3 and Ref 5)?

[guitardave]

Originally Posted by MadFloyd

Does the Ref SE switch the volume to 0 when changing inputs (as it did on the Ref 3 and Ref 5)?

My Ref5se does not do that, and as I recall neither did my Re3 or Ref5. That would be pretty annoying.

[doggiehowser]

It only goes Mute when switching to PROC for good reason

[darkstar]

Just hit 350 hours on my REF 5SE and its really starting to sing. 3 straight nights of musical bliss, so I am hoping the break-in inconsistancy is behind me.