Who Still Uses A Preamp

[herb]

My vote is strongly for a preamp, if it's top quality, since it provides enormous flexibility for a system.

My major source is an Esoteric UX-1, hugely modified by APL HiFi to what is called an NWO 4.0, SE.
It can drive an amp directly, which is the way that the designer/modder, Alex Peychev prefers, but I like the sound better with my VAC Renaissance Signature pre.

Alex's hearing is much better than mine, but we all hear differently don't we?

de gustibus non est . . . Therefore, we have this "hobby."

Herb

 

[MylesBAstor]

My vote is strongly for a preamp, if it's top quality, since it provides enormous flexibility for a system.

My major source is an Esoteric UX-1, hugely modified by APL HiFi to what is called an NWO 4.0, SE.
It can drive an amp directly, which is the way that the designer/modder, Alex Peychev prefers, but I like the sound better with my VAC Renaissance Signature pre.

Alex's hearing is much better than mine, but we all hear differently don't we?

de gustibus non est . . . Therefore, we have this "hobby."

Herb

Herb-What do you like better about the sound of your VAC preamp. Actually have never heard Kevin's preamps, only his amps in my system

 

[rblnr]

I just got an Audio Research Ref 5. My last dedicated preamp was a Melos SHA-Gold (loved it!) -- I had a piece of tape that marked the volume setting for HT passthru. After the Melos, I used preamp/processors for many years. I had no TT, so it was pretty much digital only. Have owned Proceed, Lexicon, Meridian, and most recently Theta w/a Six Shooter. As I've finally gotten back into vinyl, upgraded other parts of my system and am reviewing more, I've gone back to a dedicated preamp. Since I own ARC amps, the Ref 5 was a natural choice. If it didn't have a simple unity gain setup though, I probably would have bought something else.

 

[rugyboogie]

My vote is for preamp.

At the present time I am using the darTzeel preamp which I ordered with two build phono stages.
The previous preamp was a Supratek Chenin , also with a phono stage.
Before that was my first remote controlled two channel pre/amp. The ASR Emitter II Exclusive Blue Version, no phono built.
Loved the ASR, but having to have long interconnect for all of the gear was to much for my wallet.
Switching interconnects between components was not for me.
Have my amps at the front of the room between the speakers.
Preamp, cd player, tape decks, phono stage and tuner located at the side of the room.
Lp cleaner is at the back behind me.

 

[steve williams]

Mike

you should post pictures of your system in the members gallery

 

[trh8654]

Still using a preamp.
SS BAT VK-42SE into a pr. of Manley tube amps.

 

[microstrip]

Interesting thread - using rationality I should say I do not use a preamplifier. But I have now an Audio Research Anniversary 40 in my system ...
In 30 years of hobby I have owned many preamplifiers, but in a few occasions I tried integrated amplifiers and passive controllers. No chance. A good preamplifier always made my system better.
I think there is no best preamplifier in the world - it is always system and user dependent. But for me the preamplifier has always been the soul of my system.

 

[steve williams]

Interesting thread - using rationality I should say I do not use a preamplifier. But I have now an Audio Research Anniversary 40 in my system ...
In 30 years of hobby I have owned many preamplifiers, but in a few occasions I tried integrated amplifiers and passive controllers. No chance. A good preamplifier always made my system better.
I think there is no best preamplifier in the world - it is always system and user dependent. But for me the preamplifier has always been the soul of my system.

I'd love to hear about your 40th Anniversary ARC Preamp

 

[c1ferrari]

I'm delighting in the BAT Rex line stage and Tri (Triode Corp. of Japan) TRV-EQ3SE phono stage.

 

[microstrip]

Having owned the Ref3 and 5, as well as the CD7 and currently the CD8, I learnt that Audio Research were not joking when they refer that burn-in takes 600 hours. My ARC Anniversary preamplifier is only approaching 300 hours, so I will not make strong comments on the way it sounds.
But even taken from the box it was much better than the Ref 5.

ARC write in their site : "In every sonically significant category – bandwidth, harmonic purity, ease of delivery, musical dynamics (both large and small), bass depth, impact and control, soundstage size and image specificity, delineation of the recording venue – music is rendered with a realness and vividness that is simply uncanny." End of citation .

It sounds too much, but it is true. Every recording I listen sounds more music and less hifi than previous hearings, I hear more details and micro information, but always finely buried in the whole picture. Bass has the harmonic structure of a good tube but has impact. Curiously I am hearing music from CD in a way I would not believe it was possible - the Hagen Quartet only recorded in digital and I had a wonderful session listening to Janacek String Quartets last night.
BTW, speakers are Soundlab A1PX and amplifiers VTL MB750s.

 

[ack]

Still using what Spectral calls a convenience device that has no technical reason for existence - a preamplifier (30SL Gen 2)

 

[kach22i]

I learnt that Audio Research were not joking when they refer that burn-in takes 600 hours.

That's insane, what does that equate into real time? That's like a year, right?

 

[naturephoto1]

Having owned the Ref3 and 5, as well as the CD7 and currently the CD8, I learnt that Audio Research were not joking when they refer that burn-in takes 600 hours. My ARC Anniversary preamplifier is only approaching 300 hours, so I will not make strong comments on the way it sounds.
But even taken from the box it was much better than the Ref 5.

ARC write in their site : "In every sonically significant category – bandwidth, harmonic purity, ease of delivery, musical dynamics (both large and small), bass depth, impact and control, soundstage size and image specificity, delineation of the recording venue – music is rendered with a realness and vividness that is simply uncanny." End of citation .

I would hope that the $25,000 2 box ARC Anniversary Preamp would perform better than the $10,000 single box Reference 5 Preamp. The number of hours for break in are quite possible.

That's insane, what does that equate into real time? That's like a year, right?

You may think that 600 hours of break in are insane, but it is still quite possible for the performance to improve with so many hours of usage.

Rich

 

[MylesBAstor]

I would hope that the $25,000 2 box ARC Anniversary Preamp would perform better than the $10,000 single box Reference 5 Preamp. The number of hours for break in are quite possible.



You may think that 600 hours of break in are insane, but it is still quite possible for the performance to improve with so many hours of usage.

Rich

Breaking in equipment is one good use for digital equipment.

 

[vinylphilemag]

I'd love to hear about your 40th Anniversary ARC Preamp

I don't think you're the only one!

 

[vinylphilemag]

Breaking in equipment is one good use for digital equipment.

Heh--my thoughts exactly!

 

[microstrip]

Breaking in equipment is one good use for digital equipment.

Not so sure - do you remember the old discussion in a British magazine in the 80s about the possibility of digital LPs damaging the bearings of tonearms?

But when you listen to a good CD played in a CD8 through an Anniversary preamplifier you will find a really much better use for digital.
If you have doubts try Villa-Lobos Music for flute (Hyperion CDA66295)

 

[mullard88]

I use a preamp as I am still into analogue playback as one of the means of music reproduction.

I have also used two preamps chained in succession for digital sources. The results have been very positive.

 

[Holli82]

No preamp here. VAC 110 beta phi integrated. I was a reluctant but now happy convert to NO preamp.

 

[The Smokester]

After many listening tests and even some calculations and measurements(!!!), I am using a linestage. Have a Wavestream linestage and phonostage.