No balanced inputs on my DNA1. |
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Crap! I must have hearing problems. I thought the darned Oppo sounded pretty good!
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I just bid on a Pass Labs X-2.5. Did I do a bad thing?
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Well I got the pass preamp and to me it sounds a bit thin on the bottom compared to no preamp. The vocals aren't as warm and there is not as much Bass. Crap. |
The LDR3 from Tortuga may be the way to go.
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I just ordered an Axiom II.
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Last night I think I talked myself into thinking my new pass preamp was sounding good. I was fooling myself. It still sounds too forward to me. I really want to like it.
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Thanks George. I'll see what passive is like with the Axiom.
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I have tried the balanced and unbalanced. I liked the unbalanced better. I did not try the higher gain setting on the pass. I do use the oppo at full gain. I saw those jumpers but did not know what they were for. I'm sure they were not present in input 1 or 2 which were the ones I was using. |
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I tried a Freya. Not for.me. |
I did buy an axiom passive preamp. Although it is very good it lacks in bass and warmth for me. I'm using the audible Illusions again.
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From Oppo tech:
The BDP-105 players will not lose resolution since they are 32-bit DACs. So they are the ideal solution if you want to go direct to an amplifier.
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I would like to know the proper way to use those gain controls. Audible Illusions is not much help.
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Thanks aball. Trying it now.
Ben
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My AI seems to sound best with the gains at full volume. Is this possible? Never tried it before. Always leave them at 12 o'cock. |
Maybe it's time to try an integrated? Audio is like religion and politics. The more I learn the less fun it seems to be. Back in the 70's when I had a Crown pre and a DC300 power amp and a graphic EQ and some kind of time aligned speakers with white woofers that looked like coffins, I remember be elated by the sound. I want that feeling again. |
The oppo volume control operates using 32 bit processing.
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Going direct makes it tough with a turntable.
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Pistha,
I listen to cds and Tidal. I'm back to direct no pre but this time bi amped. Awesome. The AI pre adds quite a bit of bottom.
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As I sit here listening with no preamp, it seems like common sense would tell you that if a preamp alters the sound from the source in any way it's really a processor of some type. Right? |
Can we really expect a simple pre amp to improve on the mastering engineers ear and gear? If so just put a bunch of your favorite preamps in series and the sound would just keep getting better!
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I guess my takeaway so far has been that an active preamp can actually improve the sound of the source. Your comment about doing the least amount of damage makes the most sense to me. |
Well I just bought a used Ayre K-5x pre. Any opinions? |
George, I need two inputs because I listen to vinyl too.
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Ok. The Arye preamp sounds better than no preamp to me. Finally!
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I just sent my Axiom back
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I bought the Ayre K-5xe and It's in getting upgraded to the latest version now. Sometime back someone said at least $5000 is what you need to spend on a pre and I now agree. I'm borrowing a Parasound JC2 and it is very nice. I would say definitely better that no pre. |
Well had to give up the JC2 and am now borrowing a Parasound P7. Forget this one. Not in the same class as the JC2.
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I got the Ayre upgraded to the MP version. Holy crap! More air and heft too. Absolutely worth the $850 charge.
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