I have no financial interest causing any bias. We have exactly opposite experiences in different systems. Adding a preamp was the best improvement I have experienced.
Eliminated my preamp with amazing results
I pulled my preamp out completely. The result's were not subtle.
For those who stream music only... I was going from my laptop... to my DAC...to my preamp...to my amp. My preamps ONLY function was volume control. Source control not needed.
I started using Audirvana recently which comes with it's own high quality 64 bit volume control that was far better than the potentiometer in my preamp. It dawned on me that I could control volume using Audirvana and plug my DAC directly into the amp and bypass the preamp altogether. (Roon and Jriver also have excellent volume controllers) Note: Audirvana has an app download on a tablet/phone so it acts like a remote control. I'm loving it!
This not only eliminated the preamps volume control but it took out ALL the electronics associated in a preamp including some cables. A FAR more direct route. However, you must use caution and make sure the volume is controlled properly in the software since the amp will be fed wide open volume.
Having experimented with 'passive' preamps in the past (McCormack TLC-1) I thought the sound would possibly lose dynamics and bass response would suffer. WRONG!
The results were...Shocking!! Immediately the extended depth of the image was noticeably deeper. Background darker. The highs are the best I've ever heard. Pristine. The bass was dynamic, tight and most of all 'textured' in a way I never heard before. As I stated earlier the results are NOT subtle!
This is an experiment that took a few minutes to set up and yielded the best performance improvement of ANY other tweak I've ever tried. Not anything like using a passive preamp.
Equipment used... Peachtree DAC-itx.
Preamps...McCormack TLC-1 and Melos tube preamp.
Amp is McCormack DNA 0.5
Understand that different components will have different interactions with each other. Your results may vary. However, IF you don't like it, it takes just a few minutes to put the preamp back in the system. Nothing to lose and lot's to gain. After hearing this, I will NEVER go back to using a preamp.
Good luck!
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The closest reference I could find to Paul's narrative on this subject is a post he made six years ago. Essentially, his comments align with what has been underscored below, in contrast to what you have cited. Could you please provide the source? 1:35 ... after being shown that when a preamp is of a certain quality level, it definitely sounds better to have that preamp in a system than a straight DAC ... 3:27 ... so okay if you have a preamp of a certain quality then you can have much better realistic musical sound and Arnie Nudell was the first person that really showed that to me ...
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Here you go. This video is from from 4 years ago. I did cite that Paul said the preamp should be of a certain quality level. Specifically BHK series quality. But don't use a lesser quality or "you won't be happy"
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...and yet, one can take the stance that the least amount of 'inference' (as opposed to 'interference') between source and ears is preferable....🙄 "This is likely one of the ways 'tail-eating universes' are formed...." I'm so tired of irresistible forces v. immovable objects.....*mock sigh* Different means to the same ends..... |
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