2. amps-preamps
  3. 1324176017

TRL Dude Dilemna

Based on all the high praise for the TRL Dude preamp here and other sites, I took a chance and bought one from a local A-goner to see if it could displace an Air Tight ATC-2 preamp currently in my system. The two amps I currently use are a McIntosh MC-402 and Viva 845 SET Monos. It turns out that the Dude is not compatible with either amps due to an impedance mismatch. So I only got to hear the Dude in a compromised performance mode.
I was not quite wanting to give up on the Dude yet given everyone else's enthusiasm about its performance. I am considering the Samson monos as a natural match. I can convince myself that the Samson's could be better than the MC402..My real issue is that I would have to give up the Vivas. Not sure I can make the leap that a solid state amp will satisfy me as much as those SET Vivas. Then there is the leap of faith that I cannot hear the Samsons with purchasing them....
Has anyone replaced their SET amp with Samsons and remained satisfied with the decision? My speakers are the Green Mountain Audio Continuum 3 which are about 90db efficient with an impedance 6.5 Ohms, +/- 0.75 Ohms 150Hz to 20kHz. Thanks for your input..
tellefsen

Showing 3 responses by wilsynet

wilsynet's avatar
wilsynet
264 posts
 
Isn't this what a buffer is for? The Burson AB-160 may be worth trying.

Anyway, I'll echo what others have said: I'd get rid of the Dude sooner than I'd abandon SET amplifiers. Although to be fair, I don't know why a different pair of SET amplifiers with a higher impedance wouldn't do the trick.
wilsynet's avatar
wilsynet
264 posts
 
> I find some way to make the Dude and
> Viva's happy together by getting Paul to
> adjust the output impedance

As I was saying, this is what a buffer is for. The Burson comes to mind.
wilsynet's avatar
wilsynet
264 posts
 
The benefit is that the impedances between the two components will be corrected. The drawback is that the Burson introduces some gain and may introduce unwanted coloration. Hard to tell if it's the dream fix without trying it. Anyway, $550 new, can probably sell it for $400 used. Not a bad experiment given that there seem to be few other options.

My personal opinion: You would be nuts to give up that lovely SET sound. Although perhaps there are other 845 based SET amplifiers that have a higher input impedance.
More to discover