2. amps-preamps
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Is no preamp really better that a good preamp?

Hi All, I have PS Audio gear, and both my DAC and my phono section have enough gain to run directly to the amp. Is this really the optimal arrangement, or might I actually get better sound by adding a good preamp, say a Cary or a Modwright tube unit, to the mix. Thanks in advance.
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georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Some power amps need the drive to sound their best.

Phd, Please give the OP some preamp examples that would better the drive that his PS Audio dac gives direct into his amps?
And his PS Audio Dac is not a passive volume control on it's output!!
Cheers George
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,411 posts
 
Yes! Well, it took a design expert, but finally a great answer. Driving the inter-connect cable---what a concept! Maybe another reason why the sound of any given cable is so system-dependent---it's interacting with the volume control in the pre-amp of every system it's put in.
plinko
254 posts
 
Autoformers control the cable by optimizing the impedance relationship as one attenuates the signal. And most systems, even phono, don't need gain.

A fair amount of care must be used, however, in matching sources and amplifiers (the coupling capacitor mentioned above).
andrew9405
225 posts
 
Well, so far 2 of the predictable sellers have arrived.
Peter should shamelessly be along soon............
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Driving the inter-connect cable---what a concept!Maybe another reason why the sound of any given cable is so system-dependent---it's interacting with the volume control in the pre-amp of every system it's put in.

This is either tongue in cheek, or your so wrong.

Just in case it was not tongue in cheek. The volume pot in a preamp has nothing to do with the interconnect cable, as there is and active buffer between them, totally isolating the pot from the interconnects

Cheers George
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