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skysaberx8x
113
May 31, 2016
As a newbie to audiophilia, I would love a subject about pre-amps. I never really cared about or considered them.
Uzuzu
1431
Jun 2, 2016
skysaberx8xthey won't have a place in your world unless you are using big valuable speakers, so don't worry about preamps.
Baddog
28
Jun 3, 2016
skysaberx8xPreamps serve a valuable purpose if you have multiple sources, have no volume control on your source or on your amp, or have sources with very low gain. I have a preamp on my tube HiFi system, but I have multiple sources and a turntable. My computer based audio system just as a Grace m9XX which is a DAC and headphone amp and provides volume control. The m9XX puts out about 2w of power so can drive my monitors without any problem. Adding a preamp just adds complexity to the signal path and most likely some color to the signal. If you want to enjoy the music as it was recorded the simpler the signal path the closer you are to the truth of what was intended by the artist/engineer. Plus the cost of a good preamp, even a passive ($500 and up) is money not spent on music, better speakers/headphone/DAC.
skysaberx8x
113
Jun 4, 2016
Baddogthanks a lot for sharing valuable information, you summed up probably an hour of research :D
Hedgeporker
11
Mar 27, 2018
skysaberx8xI agree, I think Massdrop should have an educational series on the basics of hifi separates and the factors therein. It'll be good for the community and ultimately good for Massdrop's bottom line too.
Offramp
76
May 8, 2018
skysaberx8xPre-amps ehh... that is a whole other world... kinda depends on how much you’re willing to spend. You could go vintage (I did) or get something new. I bought a vintage tube amp sent it out to Rolland on the west coast and he prepped it new tubes and such then modded it to fit my needs. There preamplifiers out there with no ads online so look good. First decide tubes or solid state, what are your input needs. Are you gonna run two amps etc bi amping or single. what kind of sound do you like, warm, cool, cold. Read around, hang around high end shops, ears open...
Offramp
76
May 8, 2018
OfframpLastly I’m having an amp redone by Jerry D. east-coast... why because I over came my Monster HTPS7000 which runs 1440watts power managemen. My wife was with me when we tested the system I built and went past concert levels. I said in order to run at those levels I gotta get the other HTPS7000 in storage and hook it to the AVS. She said when you going out there... you had to be there we shut the power management system down that night... the amp is coming back more powerfu... she does not know how to turn the system on... and never will...
Offramp
76
May 13, 2018
UzuzuWell you can buy used speakers...vintage JBL’s might... need work but they would be hard to beat. There are a lot of different speaker companies. You don’t have to break the bank, if you need a speaker repaired look into Millersound. If you need crossover work check around. As much as I like my various headphone amp rigs there’s nothing like separate. If he likes warm go tubes, cool go solid state. Cold solid state it all with JBL TI speakers I think they are called. You need thump Klipsch 15” subwoofer or whatever thrills you...
Offramp
76
May 13, 2018
skysaberx8xA pre amp is a signal processor it takes a signal and processes it up to an acceptable level for a separate amp. A dac takes a digital signal and processes it to analog but you still need an amplifier. A pre amp can process any signal fed to from a tape deck, reel to reel, phonograph, cd Player, line out from a iPod using a line out dock cable Or any low level analog signal. They also make pre amps with dac’s in them. A pre amp can or might not have tone controls, some have elaborate tone control. They can have other means of processing a signal also such as a section to add an outboard processor. The thought and materiels used in the preamp give it a unique sound signature hence you listen around read reviews. If a portable source has a line out you can hook it to a preamp for use in a separates system. Preamps can run hundreds to thousands of dollars. To get the best out of a preamp you need a decent amp these run hundreds to thousands of dollars. Pre amps also have specs just like headphone equipment and basically the same rules apply. If you are looking for headphone sound without the headphones then separates are for you. A good separates system does not need to be played loud to sound good. It should provide great sound starting at less than one watt. You should be impressed at two watt. Twenty watts on a decent system about 9:30 to 10 o’clock is quite loud. You have some preamps that cost under a thousand that will give two thousand dollar Systems a run for the money but will usually fall just short. So if you like listening to cd’s, lp’s, etc then separates might be for you. if you are staying in the headphones range and going separate, it should knock your socks off and all your truthfull friends. Money Money Money knowledge is the key to getting good equipment and spending less than half for that dream system. You can go tube preamp solid state amp, tube pre amp tube amp, mix or match its up to you.
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