PreAmp Goldilocks Conundrum

[wil]

I have a Dartzeel preamp and amp (108 model 2). I also own the Atmasphere MP3 pre-amp.

From time to time I compare the two pre's and I find myself wishing for some ideal between the two.

The two pre’s bring differing pros and cons:

The DZ is more full; the Atma more lean.
The DZ sounds more congested; the Atma brings more clarity and incisiveness and might be ideal with just
a bit more weight.

Which is more realistic to live sound? I can’t conclude on that one, but probably somewhere in-between.

My main question, which may be un-anserable, is given the opposing qualities, which one would be most malleable through room set up and bass adjustments? And which would be more baked-in and intractable?

 

[PeterA]

I have a Dartzeel preamp and amp (108 model 2). I also own the Atmasphere MP3 pre-amp.

From time to time I compare the two pre's and I find myself wishing for some ideal between the two.

The two pre’s bring differing pros and cons:

The DZ is more full; the Atma more lean.
The DZ sounds more congested; the Atma brings more clarity and incisiveness and might be ideal with just
a bit more weight.

Which is more realistic to live sound? I can’t conclude on that one, but probably somewhere in-between.

My main question, which may be un-anserable, is given the opposing qualities, which one would be most malleable through room set up and bass adjustments? And which would be more baked-in and intractable?

Wil, I have no idea how to answer your specific question, but the question itself is very intriguing. A few weeks ago I was asking myself something extremely similar about two cartridges I like. One is slightly less resolving but has more weight and body and gravitas. The other is more resolving but slightly leaner sounding, particularly in the lower frequencies. I thought this was simply the characteristics of the two cartridges and I was condemned to enjoy their differences.

I then redid the power delivery to my system. Interestingly, the slightly lean but more resolving cartridge filled out and gained some of them positive characteristics of the other one without losing its superior resolution. And the other cartridge gained in overall clarity without losing its sense of weight and body.

I have no way to explain this, but the relative deficiencies of the two cartridges diminished, and they sound more alike now and the overall system sound has improved pretty significantly.

I don’t know if that relates at all to your two preamps but it has me thinking that things are not necessarily as obvious as they first appear. I hope this is not way off topic, but simply something worth considering.

 

[matakana]

I have a Dartzeel preamp and amp (108 model 2). I also own the Atmasphere MP3 pre-amp.

From time to time I compare the two pre's and I find myself wishing for some ideal between the two.

The two pre’s bring differing pros and cons:

The DZ is more full; the Atma more lean.
The DZ sounds more congested; the Atma brings more clarity and incisiveness and might be ideal with just
a bit more weight.

Which is more realistic to live sound? I can’t conclude on that one, but probably somewhere in-between.

My main question, which may be un-anserable, is given the opposing qualities, which one would be most malleable through room set up and bass adjustments? And which would be more baked-in and intractable?

I would suggest a Grounding box for a trial, probably work best on the Dart/taiko rather than the tubed Atmos, I would say it should do the trick!

 

[wil]

Wil, I have no idea how to answer your specific question, but the question itself is very intriguing. A few weeks ago I was asking myself something extremely similar about two cartridges I like. One is slightly less resolving but has more weight and body and gravitas. The other is more resolving but slightly leaner sounding, particularly in the lower frequencies. I thought this was simply the characteristics of the two cartridges and I was condemned to enjoy their differences.

I then redid the power delivery to my system. Interestingly, the slightly lean but more resolving cartridge filled out and gained some of them positive characteristics of the other one without losing its superior resolution. And the other cartridge gained in overall clarity without losing its sense of weight and body.

I have no way to explain this, but the relative deficiencies of the two cartridges diminished, and they sound more alike now and the overall system sound has improved pretty significantly.

I don’t know if that relates at all to your two preamps but it has me thinking that things are not necessarily as obvious as they first appear. I hope this is not way off topic, but simply something worth considering.

That's really interesting and a fortuitous goldilocks outcome!

I need to play around with the bass adjustments on my active bass. I haven't had the speakers long and haven't the time to devote to it, so I've just left everything at "12 o'clock." Ideally, by doing so, I'd like to be able to adjust each pre to reach it's own optimal balance between lean resolution and weighty euphony and see which one I prefer then.

 

[wil]

I would suggest a Grounding box for a trial, probably work best on the Dart/taiko rather than the tubed Atmos, I would say it should do the trick!

Thanks for that idea, Matakana. Could you elaborate on why a grounding box would more likely aid the ss rather than the tubes?

 

[dan31]

Are you using the 50 ohm zeel interconnect? That should be the jam for the Dzl pre and amp.

 

[wil]

Are you using the 50 ohm zeel interconnect? That should be the jam for the Dzl pre and amp.

Yes, I am!