Posted by Frank Stuppel [ 24.25.213.170 ] on May 08, 2004 at 20:10:51:
In Reply to: Hi posted by Adrian Mack on May 08, 2004 at 18:41:37:
Adrian,
From the source component thru to the speakers the preamp is the most important component that if not well done, really messes up the sound. Manufacturers have over the years improved the sound of the CD/SACD and amplifiers, up to a level where there are many "very good" sounding CD/SACD and amplifiers. It is difficult really to find "bad sounding" CD/SACD and amplifier.
The one component that has not "matured" over time is the preamp. Therefore one has to spend more time and more money, to find the right preamp, than any other component.
Having said all that, I am partial to preamps that are tubed. The reason is that, I have found that you can spend less money on a good tubed preamp, than on a comparable sounding good solid state preamp. So the audio value is in tubed preamps.
The actual choices are determined by how much money you wish to spend.
EAR makes a very good tube preamp that has received rave reviews all over the world. More in the mid price level is the deHavilland which was just reviewed by Enjoy The Music. At the “best of category” level is the Convergent Audio Technology (CAT) preamp.
Another type of preamp that you can consider is a “passive” pre amp. They are normally very transparent, and let all the detail through. Some passive preamps, that do not do the sound well, will mess up the “dynamics” of the sound, and should be avoided.
The only one that does it right is Placette.
If you are using high efficiency speakers, a problem you will encounter, is that many of the preamps, will only allow you to turn the volume up “one or two clicks” and you have maximum volume. This has the effect that you may not be able to really adjust the volume. This is very annoying. So too much gain in the preamp is not necessarily good.
With all the issues involved, you should audition the preamps in your system to make sure that it gives you the sound that you want to hear.
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