Preamp Noise with High-Efficiency Speakers

Atmasphere,

Did you mean to say "without" instead of "with"? If not, then I am confused by the statement.

"A simple solution is a buffered volume control. This offers proper volume control performance with it acting as a mild tone control or hindering dynamic impact."

Wow, I did not know my thread can attract so many responses in days! It looks like noise is more attractive than music.

Georgelofi, I currently do exactly what you say: set the input impedance at max (57k Ohm on RCA) and run DP-777 directly. I normally listen at -30 dB on my DP-777, so you are right, modern electronics have too much gain and we are throwing the signal away. And I have to either throw it away at DP-777's internal volume control, or at an external preamp. I don't know which way is better because the noise issue doesn't allow me to evaluate preamps.

I appreciate your (and Nelson Pass's) belief on the preamp-less approach, but I am not convinced that the volume control inside the DP-777 is a world beater; and I am not sure the DP-777's output impedance (at more than 100 Ohm) and the FL-100's input impedance (57k Ohm) is a match made in heaven.

When I use conventional speakers (85-92 dB), having a good preamp is a clear winner. Audia's own Flight Pre actually worked much better than Cary SLP-05 due to impedance matching, and running AMR DP-777 direct sits somewhere between these two preamps. With a Cary V-12R power amp the results is totally reversed in favor of the Cary SLP-05.

I don't want to turn this thread into another arguement over preamp/preamp-less comparison, but we all know system matching is key and there's no way better than all others. At one point I bought an all Audia system (CD/Pre/Pwr), and an all Cary system to reduce the hassle of system matching. But at the end of the day it is still not simple. Now I am thinking about buying a Devialet D-Premier and sell everything else.

Cheers!

just read this quote from Nelson Pass, I think we could all aggree that we all here with our combind wisdom pale into insignificance compared to him.

Given the fact that Ralph from Atmasphere is among the contributors to this thread I certainly do not agree with the above. :)

Regarding the preamp vs. no preamp issue my experience is that it also depends (very much in fact) on the component used (maybe on how transparent these components are). I have recently upgraded my power amp from the Accuphase A-45 to Accuphase A-65. Except for the power ratings and price the two amps are almost identical on paper, in fact, the cheaper amp has better specs in some cases (though maybe those are typos in the manual). In reality, A-65 + cd player sounds better than the A-45 + pre-amp + cd player. Putting the pre-amp between the A-65 and cd player has brought some improvements. Whether or not these improvements justify the price of my pre-amp is debatable.

I too have very efficient speakers, i.e. Avantgarde UNO G2, and luckily I had no "noise" problems.

Paul

YingtonggaoI am not sure the DP-777's output impedance (at more than 100 Ohm) and the FL-100's input impedance (57k Ohm) is a match made in heaven.Yingtonggao

100ohms into 57kohms
This is a great/perfect match end of story, especially that you have more than enough gain. And if you look at internals the DP-777 the volume control is not a tacked on potentiometer on the output rca's, it is a analog domain volume control that is after the dac yet before the tube output buffers. This will be the most transparent/perfect way you can get the signal from your dac to the FL100 amp. If then you don't like this, by all means colour it to your liking with a active preamp of your choice, this is why ALL active preamps sound different as they are not a strait wire with gain, as Nelson Pass alludes to in his statement. And if other can't see this they cannot see the forest through the trees and believe in voodoo.

Cheers George

But it should be noted that the passive preamp offered by Pass is no mere volume control. It is a buffer design that attempts to eliminate impedance issues that afflict many passive designs, IIRC.

I will also add my 2 cents:

Cent #1: I agree that attending to the gain structure of a system is a very important part of achieving system synergy. With speakers like the OP's, too much gain is likely to be an issue.

Cent #2: I have also never found a passive preamp that doesn't impact dynamics and oomph, compared to an active pre. Of course to get both the drive of an active and the level of detail of a passive you need to spend a good deal. So for some budgets you may need to choose one or the other. I found my perfect balance in the Musical Fidelity kW linestage.