To Preamp Or Not To Preamp,That Is The Question

Mikey,

The Quad 99 CDP or 99 CDP-2 is a very good sounding CD player when used direct to amp. It also has multiple digital inputs, so you can use it as the pre-amp (switcher) for multiple digital sources.

I had both a 99 CDP and a 99 CDP-2 a few years ago. I connected my DVD player and digital cable box through it with good results. If I still had it today, I would also be connecting my MAC Mini based music server through it.

I've seen them for as little as $600 and it is a very good unit. BTW, there is also a Quad 99 CD player (not CDP). Don't buy it. I think it is only for use connected directly via Quad-link to a Quad integrated amp.

Does the Cambridge Audio 840c have variable volume? If so, it might be a good choice. It gets nearly universal good reviews.

Another very good moderately priced player with variable volume is the Cary DC-308 that I once owned. Supposedly the CD-308T(tube) is even better, but I've never heard one.

Enjoy,

TIC

I had one of these Adcoms, in the early 1990's when they were new. I used it with the variable output directly into an amplifier, and thought it sounded just fine too. If you're happy that's all that counts. End of story.

The real problem with the Adcom is that digital electronics have gotten *so much better* over the years. If you have a pre-amp, you may well find that a $59 Sony DVD player out-performs it in playing CDs.

It sounds really good to me.

You've answered your own question.

If you are purely curious, start another thread: which $xxxx preamp is best with my system? Pick one of the 16-20 various recommendations you get there...any one will do...maybe even one that's repeated more than once. Look for a used one here on A'gon sold by someone with a good track record. Buy it. Try it in your system. If you don't like it, sell it here on A'gon for about what you bought it for. Go back to your thread and pick a different one to try - repeat until you either find the one that sounds even better than "really good", or stop when your curiosity is satisfied, and or when you realize that "really good" is, well... is actually really good.

My experience has been that preamps can make a significant difference. There are also significant differences in using a passive vs active pre, as well as in using the gain available on some players, or gain in the digital domain (don't even go there). Tube preamps may sound different to you than SS preamps, and or may work better within your system. Whether or not you actually hear the differences in your own system, with your own music, as many here have pointed out, is entirely your call. Plenty of input in the archives to read through as well.

all good advice, and I read them all...
The 840c does not have volume or variable output, else I would have jumped 'more vigorously' on the one local b4 it went overseas...still, a good cdp nonetheless, and, I have a few preamps anyways, maybe none highend, but, they all sound good, some better than others...thx for all the advice again...

Here's a few general rules of thumb:

The further away the CDP is from the power amps, the more likely a preamp will help.

If you have a built-in volume control: if analog you will need the preamp less, if it is digital, you will need the preamp more (digital controls rob the signal of resolution as you turn them down, so you use the volume control in the preamp instead to avoid this problem).

Why CDP and DAC designers use digital volume controls is beyond me. None of them work and a digital designer would be the first to know that...