2. amps-preamps
  3. 135591-46395

How much do I need to spend to get a preamp that sounds better than no preamp?

Hello all.
I'm using an Audible Illusions L1 preamp and I think my system sounds better when I remove it from the signal path. Oppo BD105 directly to SMC Audio DNA1 Gold power amp. I have read that there is level of quality you need to hit before there will be an improvement in sound. I can't seem to find what that level is. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Ben
honashagen
honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Going direct makes it tough with a turntable. 

honashagen OP
137 posts
 
Pistha,
I listen to cds and Tidal. I'm back to direct no pre but this time bi amped. Awesome. The AI pre adds quite a bit of bottom. 

honashagen OP
137 posts
 
The oppo volume control operates using 32 bit processing.

Post removed 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
The best active buffer with or without gain, is going to generate distortions and noise, no matter how good it is.

Nelson Pass back that up when hes says:

" A “passive preamp” - just an input selector and a volume control.

What could be better? Hardly any noise or distortion added by these simple passive parts. No feedback, no worrying about what type of capacitors – just musical perfection.

And on his hybrid Passive/Active preamp:

" The only component in the signal path is wire and switch contacts.
At positions below 3 o’clock, the volume control functions as a precision passive attenuator using discrete resistor ladders.
Above 3 o’clock, active gain is added to the output signal in 2 decibel increments, for a maximum of 10 dB.
As a result, you SUFFER the effects of active circuitry only when additional gain is necessary."


Cheers George




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