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

Posted by fredtr (A) on August 13, 2016 at 15:54:00

In Reply to: With modern sources putting out 2.5v why do I need a preamp posted by airtime on August 13, 2016 at 07:40:40:

Good question, not a simple answer. For example it may be that as you turn up the source volume you increase the distortion non-linearly - just depends on the design.

The next is that you like the sound of the preamp. There are neutral designs, but for the most part preamps do color the sound and with tube preamps it is difficult to design them to be neutral due to the characteristics of a tube. This is just a guess but I think if I was to measure gain vs input level of the tube preamps I like, the gain would be non-linear, expanded, increased head room is another way to express it.

The next are other forms of pleasing distortion. Even and odd harmonics, there is a lot written about. I had a friend in HiFi his entire career, store sales, rep, and then sales and marketing management, all high end equipment. He came across a relatively inexpensive CD player that he liked the sound of. So I bought one, and did a lot to it, external low noise PS, high resolution DAC, high-end output section. We got together and listened to them both. The one I did the work to, much cleaner sound but he liked the unmodified one better. He found the noise/distortion pleasing, musical.

Similarly I used an OTL amplifier for about a year. It had a great, clean, expanded sound. But I went back to tube transformer amplifiers because I found I liked the sound/coloring of the transformers.

I think you would just have to try the source directly connected to an amplifier and compare it to through your preamp. It sounds like you like the sound of your preamp so that may be what you find.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

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)

Follow Ups

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

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