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CD direct to Amp/Current TAS issue ?

In the current issue of the Absolute Sound, the reviewers are asked to put together reccomended systems within certain price ranges (this is a great issue, BTW). One of the reccomended systems has an amp and CD player, but no preamp. The reviewer says something to the effect of "Because the CD player has an analog output level control, a preamp is not required and that money can be put into other areas of the system." Does this work with any CD player/Amp combination as long as the CD has an output level control? Is there any risk of damaging the amp or speakers by using this "no preamp" configuration? Other than being limited to only one input source, are there any drawbacks to going direct to amp? I appreciate any light you can shed on this subject, especially if any of you are actually running your systems in this configuration.
daddyo
cdguru5606
5 posts
 
Why do people make tube amps that sell for thousand of dollars? because it acts as a tone control. If you bypass the preamp, then the benefits of the pre are negated.
marklivia
60 posts
 
you need to use a cd player w/ volume control. on the low end are units like the marantz cd67, i think cal audio has one or two, then resolution audio 50, a couple others and the wadias. the thing is, to get the best sound you need an excellent volume control(attenuator). thats where the wadias (all of them) excell- all done digitally. none of these options will hurt your system. also the wadias have inputs for other digital sources. good luck.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Hi Daddyo; I enjoyed the latest issue of TAS too, and like you, especially the various stereo systems they put together at different price levels. Anyway, just for the helluva it, I ran good ICs from my Sony CA9ES ($700. MSRP) variable out terminals directly to my amp (very good amp). The sound was so incredibly detailed, etched, wiry, and shrill that it almost made my ears bleed. I blame the cheap variable volume control of the Sony CD player for the harsh sound (control is on the remote, and it worked fine). I quickly learned that if you're going to do this, you need a CD player with a high quality volume control. I replugged the CD output back into my outboard DAC, tube pre-amp, and went back to being relaxed and happy. Happy listening. Craig
garfish
1,840 posts
 
... Of course the CD player also has to have a high quality built in DAC to sound good, and the CA9 doesn,t. I also use the well regarded Sony XA7 that has an excellent built in DAC. I'll have to try its variable outs (it's harder to get to). Craig.
mjaudio
58 posts
 
To achieve the best possible sound you must get a CD player that uses an analog volume control like the Wadia, Theta or Resolution Audio. Many other cd players use digital volume controls that just throw away bits to reduce volume. Great Pre-amps should be transparent so that even if you where to connect a CD player through it it should sound the same as connecting the CD player directly to the amp since the main function of the pre-amp is to provide switching of multiple sources and to control volume. Even though many people use pre-amps to change the quality of the sound a perfect pre-amp should in no way effect the sound of the source, just pass the sound without adding or subtracting anything. If your only source is going to be CD then save the money you would spend on a pre-amp and the extra set of cables and put that money towards a high quality CD player with analog volume controls, you should be very happy.
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