Are Preamps necessary?


I love classical music, and I have a simple system: a pair of Klipsch (RF-5) floorstanders, and Yamaha components (CDP, Tuner, and Amp). What I want from my system is to be able to close my eyes and feel like I'm there at the symphony, live.

I want to know if a preamp will help me achieve my goal. When are they necessary, or beneficial?

David
bridge36
This question has been kicked around quite a few times recently. I would suggest doing a search on Audiogon for these players: Resolution Audio Opus 21, Wadia 861, or Audio Aero Capitole MKII. Each player has been discussed in the various preamp or no preamp posts. Good luck!
David

A lot of thought and reading results in success when building a system. You first need a plan...your plan must include everything you would like to achieve with the end result.

You will also need to include your room this system will be placed in along with any (wife acceptance factor) that may alter your plan.

A financial breakdown from the total that you plan to spend will give a more clear picture and starting point. This may also alter your plan short-term...or even long-term depending on YOU.

Remember, our goals are not all the same. Take advice and opinion for what it is and use it as just another tool among many. I wish the internet had been around when I was building my first systems back in the 60's...use it to your advantage as another tool.

I don't usually ramble on like this, but I see that this is your first post.

Dave
JW94055 is right; you will need a volume control somewhere, I would try a passive, in my case once you've tried a passive you will not want an active preamp. The active preamp will always be adding another step of separation from the music, IMHO.
Agreed with Xiekitchen... also with JW94055. You dont need to invest huge ammounts of cash to arrange a nice system, even at the price you paid for your current and respectable Yamaha gear, assuming it is a classical Natural SOund series and not something extravagant from the Far East.

My humble advise is for you to try to sell or locate your current system somewhere else and go for a HiEnd setup, many options are available at this forum, particulary if you are into Classical Music listening, just adding a preamp to your current setup will not bring any additional benefit.

Fernando