2. amps-preamps
  3. 179899-155632

Preamps can color sound considerably. Surprising?

Had the pleasure of listening to 4 hi end preamplifiers this weekend. And each preamp sounded very nice. But they were different. Each preamplifier has different circuitry and within the frequency spectrum there was more vibrancy in some areas versus other areas. Amplifiers are the same way.

It takes a while to appreciate sound differences between preamplifiers. And then you got the issue of Breakin which further changes the color.

clearly designers are playing around with all the internal circuitry in a manner that hopefully will be appealing. Clearly, these units do not get out of the way when it comes to moving a signal through the box.

I think solid state is more susceptible to coloring versus tubes. Tubes color sound as well.

It's all about marketing different ways to color Music. This isn't necessarily bad but it's never really talked about this way.

 

 

 

jumia

Showing 2 responses by elliottbnewcombjr

elliottbnewcombjr
5,112 posts
 

I use 'Prefer' rather than 'Better' regarding variations and my personal selections. When several friends agree with you, that gets close to 'better', but still ....

elliottbnewcombjr
5,112 posts
 

Yep,

Friday I bought a DVD/CD player for a friend at a rummage sale, $15..

Saturday a different friend brought his expensive CD player to compare with my Sony xa5400ES.

Both friends units directly to my Cayin Integrated Tube amp using it’s 6sn7s and 6sl7s for gain, KT88’s for power.

Both sounded very good.

Played my Sony, via McIntosh Tube preamp, bunch of 12...s, volume at 50 then off to the Cayin for remote volume via the 6’s. it sounded great. Just slighty preferred to the two others, but that is what I am used to and chose over others. Friend agreed it sounded darn good, no sense it was digital.

Next try my Sony direct to the Cayin. Without the mx110z, it sounded thin, not harsh or digital, just thin if you catch my description.

Next try friends fancy CD player via my mx110z: it sounded bloated, too much bass,

Taught me much unknown about my CD player and Preamp.

mx110z’s MM Phono stage always sounds better than any other phono stage I have compared it to.

Prior McIntosh SS C28 MM Phono sounded worse than any other phono I compared it to, so I sold it.

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