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Do I even need a dedicated stereo preamp?

Hi everybody, I'm new here. Been a lurker for a long time. 

My current system is dual purpose for music and HT. However over time, I have added dedicated pieces of equipment for the music side. The only standalone piece I do not have is a preamp. Here is my current setup. 

AVR: Anthem MRX 540

AMP: Buckeye Purifi 1ET6525SA 2 channel   

STREAMER: Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2

DAC: Holo Audio Cyan 2

So far I am incredibly happy with my setup. However, a part of me wonders if I would gain any sonic benefit from a dedicated preamp.  

I want to just full send it, but money is tight and I want to make sure I would truly have something to gain. That's why I am here asking all of you guys. If money wasn't an issue, I've been looking into Benchmark LA4 or the Holo Audio Serene. Another issue for me is I have gotten so used to using the Anthem phone app to adjust the volume say if I'm in my kitchen. I know I would lose that functionality.  

So from those more experienced than me, will I hear a noticeable difference between the preamp in the Anthem AVR vs a dedicated preamp? 

Thanks

musical404
ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,468 posts
 

@soix 

+1

musical404 OP
18 posts
 

The Anthem MRX 540 gets good reviews as a 2 channle preamp, my thinking is your going to have to spend much more to get "Better" if not a side step/difference.

That's what I've been thinking. Something to look forward to in the future. 

musical404 OP
18 posts
 

Tell your wallet to get a job. You need speaker supplies! Lol. 
https://www.schiit.com/products/freya-f

if you’re able to stay true to this hobby, you will be completely blown away in 10 years of what you are able to accomplish.

I'll look into this for the future. But my wallet! I'm so broke right now haha

soix
11,247 posts
 

The Anthem MRX 540 gets good reviews as a 2 channle preamp, my thinking is your going to have to spend much more to get "Better" if not a side step/difference. 

Yeah I’m gonna take the other side of that.  AVRs are always big compromises as they shoehorn so many functions into one unit while designing to hit a price point, and this always comes at the expense of some of the more critical and usually pricier components like power supplies, capacitors, volume control, etc.  Then to put the delicate preamp signal through a morass of noise from all those circuits doesn’t exactly help matters.  Put it this way, in a $1900 AVR after including digital processing, video processing, streaming, a tuner, and amplification how much can be left to go toward the preamp?  Not a lot, so for all these reasons even a good budget preamp should  handily outperform the preamp section in most AVRs.  Anyway, food for thought FWIW, and best of luck adding a good stereo pre in the future. 

devinplombier
1,676 posts
 

Do I even need a dedicated stereo preamp?

No. You don't.

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