Benchmark LA4 preamp Stereophile and Absolute Sound, sounds like it is pretty much a passive preamp??
Why pay $2600.00 for it when the Goldpoint passives above are approx $500? depending on how many inputs needed.
Cheers George
Partly passive preamp?
I’ve been using an Audio Research LS22 preamp with my Krell duo 175xd power amp. I also use an Audio Research PH3 phono stage. Since the ARC preamp is about 25 years old, I’ve thought of replacing it. First, I decided to connect my PS Audio Directstream DAC directly to the Krell amp to see if it made a difference (the DirectStream has a good volume control). It sounds great. If I never wanted to use my turntable and tuner again, I’d consider sticking with this setup. My question: is there such a thing as a preamp which would allow me to use my other equipment but does nothing to the signal coming from the dac...which is essentially passive when using the dac input?
- ...
- 19 posts total
Don’t know a single person who has kept one though.I know many that have dumped their $KKK dollar active preamps for them, just mine alone that has only one input, is nudging up to 1k world wide now. And going direct source to amp is just a bit better again, if not "bit-stripping" by having the sources digital domain volume too low. Cheers George |
There is a few posts in the LA4 preamp thread today that gives some examples of the quality of the LA4. You got nothing to lose other than $2500 if you do the 30 day free trial from Benchmark. I use a HPA4 with a few analog sources including a DAC. Wow, did not realize the HPA4 was Product of the Year for 2019. It is marvelous with headphones. https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/reviews/hpa4-review-tom-martin-the-absolute-sound |
- 19 posts total