2. amps-preamps
  3. 1293746922

Preamp or Not

System:
Speakers: B&W 802D
AMP: 2 Plinius SA100 MKIII used as mono
Preamp: Musical Fidelity need upgrade to BAT or Pass Labs?
Source: Arcam fmj CD37

I have bunch of other good equipment in my theater room. The above are my 2-channel audio only set up. I have been thinking of upgrading my pre and CDP because they have no XLR connections. They sound very good but I'd like to use the balance connections. I just found an Esoteric SA50 player which apparently can be connected to the amplifier directly, therefore, eliminating the need for a preamp.

Question:

Since I have a very high gain amp and some external distortion and noise issues, would I be better off with a preamp and a source or just go directly from source to the amps. If there are no setbacks with this kind of set up, I can eliminate one component and save some $ in the process.

I would love to hear from members with similar experience and/or familiar with Esoteric SA50.
espoverload

Showing 3 responses by booboobaer

booboobaer's avatar
booboobaer
62 posts
 
I have tried passive before and it does sound clear but thin in most cases. XLR was developed to reduce noise in very long runs of cables for bands. It works very well ask any band member of any clout if they use RCA and they will chuckle. I have a BAT VK51SE preamp and I have to say it is VERY quiet! The RCA cable was originally designed for tone arm connections (short lengths). I have had single ended cables and XLR both and I must say balanced is DEAD Silent. You can see my system and see that I am VERY serious about the sound. You can turn on the system and turn the volume to max without the cd playing of course and barley hear audible hiss from JM LAB Utopia tweeter at about two inches to my ear.
booboobaer's avatar
booboobaer
62 posts
 
I forgot to mention that the other day I was hearing a buzz or spit intermitantly on the left speaker and was worried that a tube was going bad or worse one of the amps! After investigating all my connections etc. I found one interconnect was laying directly against a power cord (perpendicularly by the way). This power cord was feeding the preamp and I'll be damned, that was it. Repositioning the interconnect fixed it. When the noise is occuring try taking a wire and touching to both the amp and preamp to see if the noise worsens or lowers. Do you have a friend with a different preamp that you could see if this goes away?
booboobaer's avatar
booboobaer
62 posts
 
Espoverload
Sorry I just reread that you have tried new amps etc. Forgive me for being dense. If you know some one with a power conditioner that may be an easy test. Also several years ago I noticed my lights in my house dimming at erratic intervals. This kept happening and it worried me so I had the electric company take a look at my power. On the outside of your house is a a meter. It is fed on three legs. Each leg must read equal voltage. Mine did not. Upon investigation the power company tech said one of the leads was loose at the box in the back yard. This box fed 2 or 3 houses. It is sounding like you have a power problem in your house. Some fluke meters (voltmeters) have ocilliscope screens so you can take a sample of the power at your outlet and see if there is some large scale noise in your ac supply. Good luck!
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