I would advise against any schiit preamps. I have not had success with them in my systems.
Impedence Matching Help Needed
I've been hoping to build a passive preamp system, but am confused about impedances and voltages. The idea is this:
Sources:
(1) Audioengine DAC (for multimedia sources) (output: 2V, 2 ohms)
(2) NAD CDP (output: 2.2V, 200 ohms)
(3) Mani phono preamp (output: 5V, 75 ohms)... also have Yaqin tube phono preamp I could use (output: 0.7V, 500 ohms)
Here's where I sort of 'create' a passive preamp:
(1) Passive 5-way input selector
(2) Schiit sys passive ALPs attenuator (input: 10K ohms, output: 5K ohms max)
(3) Schiit loki passive EQ (input: 47K ohms, output: 75 ohms)
Then all this goes onto a Parasound Classic 125 WPC power amp (input: 33K ohms)
I will adjust the amplifiers gain/sensitivity down until the passive attenuator is at around 2 o'clock to minimize the increased S/N that comes from too low of a volume setting. I plan to use the shortest cables possible to reduce resistance?capacitance?.
I would love to hear from those who are more experienced with the math behind this if this should work or not. I've heard of passive systems sounding thin and would prefer to avoid that. I'm also considering purchasing an Onkyo A-9150 (~$400 new) and going active, but I'm trying to avoid the 'character' that active preamps tend to add and I don't have a budget for a high end active brand.
Keep in mind I also have an Onkyo Integra home theater setup with preamp outs, but I'm hoping to use y-adaptors on the sources and primarily use the above system for 2-channel listening (only turning on the Onkyo HTR for movies). So, in a way the 2-channel system is a HT-bypass setup.
Thanks for any help from the impedance experts!
Sources:
(1) Audioengine DAC (for multimedia sources) (output: 2V, 2 ohms)
(2) NAD CDP (output: 2.2V, 200 ohms)
(3) Mani phono preamp (output: 5V, 75 ohms)... also have Yaqin tube phono preamp I could use (output: 0.7V, 500 ohms)
Here's where I sort of 'create' a passive preamp:
(1) Passive 5-way input selector
(2) Schiit sys passive ALPs attenuator (input: 10K ohms, output: 5K ohms max)
(3) Schiit loki passive EQ (input: 47K ohms, output: 75 ohms)
Then all this goes onto a Parasound Classic 125 WPC power amp (input: 33K ohms)
I will adjust the amplifiers gain/sensitivity down until the passive attenuator is at around 2 o'clock to minimize the increased S/N that comes from too low of a volume setting. I plan to use the shortest cables possible to reduce resistance?capacitance?.
I would love to hear from those who are more experienced with the math behind this if this should work or not. I've heard of passive systems sounding thin and would prefer to avoid that. I'm also considering purchasing an Onkyo A-9150 (~$400 new) and going active, but I'm trying to avoid the 'character' that active preamps tend to add and I don't have a budget for a high end active brand.
Keep in mind I also have an Onkyo Integra home theater setup with preamp outs, but I'm hoping to use y-adaptors on the sources and primarily use the above system for 2-channel listening (only turning on the Onkyo HTR for movies). So, in a way the 2-channel system is a HT-bypass setup.
Thanks for any help from the impedance experts!