With modern sources putting out 2.5v why do I need a preamp

Posted by airtime (A) on August 13, 2016 at 07:40:40

I've been asking myself this question for a long time now. I'm a preamp fan and always have been. But lately I have to wonder why I need this expensive (and with modern tube preamps costly) piece of equipment.

The reason I began to RE-thinking all this is because I've become nostalgic and regret VERY much letting my McIntosh C38 preamp go. That was the one piece of Mac gear I truly appreciated and liked.

I use ONE source and it puts out 2.5 - 3 volts. The two amps I use only require 1.2v input and I don't crank my music (at least anymore). The preamp I use puts out a maximum of almost 10v. A range I will never EVER use.

So outside of needing it for multiple source connections which is something I don't need - why do I really need one?

Charles

Also I've notice a lot of new preamps have a tremendous amount of gain. My CJ has 29db of gain and eats tubes on a regular basis. From an engineering point of view it seems like a poor design model (this is NOT directed at the CJ!! but a general statement) when a source is putting out so much voltage????

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Topic - With modern sources putting out 2.5v why do I need a preamp - airtime 07:40:40 08/13/16 (20)

Yes - Awe-d-o-file 17:01:05 08/17/16 (0)

RE: With modern sources putting out 2.5v why do I need a preamp - Bold Eagle 14:09:23 08/17/16 (0)

Palutris explained it pretty well but you also have to consider - Michael Samra 16:51:04 08/14/16 (0)

If you use a high gain amp, you just need a volume pot. - richardl 12:49:03 08/14/16 (0)

RE: With modern sources putting out 2.5v why do I need a preamp - Palustris 12:12:33 08/14/16 (0)

RE: With modern sources putting out 2.5v why do I need a preamp - Crazy Dave 11:51:40 08/14/16 (0)

I remember that topic having come up ten years ago - E-Stat 11:08:15 08/14/16 (6)

Flavor - airtime 11:40:31 08/14/16 (5)

Hmmm - E-Stat 12:25:19 08/14/16 (4)

RE: Hmmm - Michael Samra 16:17:07 08/14/16 (3)

RE: Hmmm - E-Stat 18:21:45 08/14/16 (2)

RE: Hmmm - Michael Samra 18:08:57 08/15/16 (1)

RE: Hmmm - E-Stat 19:15:14 08/15/16 (0)

" throwing away signal level so that a subsequent gain stage can make it back up" - 1973shovel 19:11:22 08/13/16 (0)

RE: With modern sources putting out 2.5v why do I need a preamp - fredtr 15:54:00 08/13/16 (0)

RE: With modern sources putting out 2.5v why do I need a preamp - mark.korda@myfairpoint.net 15:44:37 08/13/16 (0)

RE: With modern sources putting out 2.5v why do I need a preamp - Iain42 13:48:24 08/13/16 (0)

Interesting on the CJ - spindoctor 13:27:32 08/13/16 (0)

impedance matching/buffering nt - viridian 10:47:50 08/13/16 (1)

and/or "drive" to the first stage of the power amp (nt) - mhardy6647 11:18:58 08/13/16 (0)

With modern sources putting out 2.5v why do I need a preamp

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