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Expensive Preamplifiers = Big Scam?

Tube Pre Amps (power amps too) may and typically do sound different, often percieved as better than SS amps because they add Even Order Harmonic Distortion. 1.5% - 2.0% HD is common for a Tube amp (It's 1.8% for the 6922 triode audio section of my Dynalab FM Tuner). This is what gives Tube amps that smooth sound so important in today's digital world of 1's and 0's. They can also sound the same as SS if they have low distortion (under .2% or so)

Ironically Tube's may be more important in todays digital world than the day's when Vinyl was the program source, whether it was from your Turntable or a FM Broadcast. Think of Even Order Harmonic Distotion as Good Collestrol, some is good.

If it's that warm sound where the midbass/midrange tones are slightly emphized we want, we can get that from SS. Tube Amps generally have a Warmer Sound than their SS counterparts, but due more to circut topology than because of the presence of tube's. My 1979 Audio Design PA100 SS Power Amp has one the smoothest "Warm Sound" I've ever heard from any amp SS or Tube.

No SS Preamp at any price produces the Even Order HD However. Note that these effect's are suttle. If the Tube amp sounds much better or different to you, It's likely for a combination of reasons.

Hybred design's are a good blending of tubes and SS. They can deliever that Tube sound, with the power and authority of a high power SS amp in one much smaller and more economical package. Also using a Tube source, like my Dynalab FM Tuner produces the same effect combined with a SS amp.

An amps quality IMO is still the most impotant thing in SQ be it SS or Tube.
 
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tubino said:
A great preamp is better than no preamp, or passive.
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A great preamp is apparently a dynamic range expander? Very interesting! I guess you could also just hook your system up to one of these for the same effect:

http://www.rainbowguitars.com/recording/spl/transient-designer-2-signal-processor/9946000/SPL

:scratch2:

The best preamp is (of course) one where all switching and signal attenuation is done in the digital realm (as far as that is possible, of course if you have analog sources this will change).
 
OK. You can't just let this drop! Please list some of your recommended pre's in the $100 to $400 bracket! And I'm not being sarcastic! I want to know about a few good, cheap preamps! Because I'm looking for one too; as I'm like the thread originator, and don't want to use a HT based piece of equipment for a pre in a 2 channel set-up. So, any suggestions (that are at least equal to my Acurus), with a remote control for volume? :scratch2:

x_25 said:
My suggestion is find a good (doesn't have to be expensive, there is amazing stuff that can be had for $400 and under (even down to around $100 if you look)) pre-amp and give it a try.



Actually, from what I have read it has more to do with impedance matching between the source and amp. Which is one of the jobs of a pre-amp. I know for a fact my one amp and CD player do not like each other without something in between to keep the piece.
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I bought my Conrad Johnson PV2AR which had been upgraded with all multicaps and the rectifier rebuilt for $325 or $375, can't remember. I wouldn't sell it for twice that.
Big thing is to just always keep an eye out and don't be in a hurry.
 
donberry said:
Big thing is to just always keep an eye out and don't be in a hurry.
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You've got that right! When I'm looking for gear, I can't find it. And when I'm broke, I see tons of stuff that I'd like to buy, and can't! :no: But, you have to be patient, and look and keep looking. Morning and night, every day, to catch a bargain. And I still usually miss 'em... :sigh:
 
cdfac said:
:nono: ever heard of jfets and vfets?
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Radio shack used MOSFET's In the FM Section of it's 1976 STA-90 stereo reciever, I thought they were obsolite now.
Do they make them today. When I looked for a good new amp 2 years ago I didn't read anything on them. I'll look now though, out of couristy.
 
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OP: Expensive Preamplifiers = Big Scam?

2 yrs later and coming up on 100 replies: My opinion, Not a scam at all.

A well designed tube preamp can do wonders with dynamic contrasts. I don't know if there is any way to look for that ability in the measurement/spec dept. If you love music, you'll know it when you hear it.

The best I've found are the higher end Conrad Johnson preamps (ART and ACT 2.2). One gain stage, pure class A and no cathode follower. Pretty simple and, unfortunately, expensive.
 
Maybe not a scam but taking ten or twelve high gm small signal triodes in parallel, adding boutique passive parts then selling for $13k+ ought to make for a pretty good living. Quite a good margin, though maybe not much volume.
 
I use a Luxman C 05 preamp and it sounds like a high end preamp. Clean, clear and full sound. Soundstage, most importantly, has width AND depth. It will really show when your speakers are set up properly.

I don't think expensive preamps are any more a scam than expensive amps, speakers or turntables/sources are.....
 
I would say pre-Amps are somewhat important. I use a Carver CT-27v and it makes my Carver TFM-55x sound like a god.
 
FlameHaze said:
I would say pre-Amps are somewhat important. I use a Carver CT-27v and it makes my Carver TFM-55x sound like a god.
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Your new preamp allows you to speak with God? :banana::banana::banana:

Absolutely amazing and perhaps a first! Just out of curiosity, while you were conversing, did my name happen to come up? I don't why it would, but it pays to stay on the right side of the Lord!
:thmbsp:

Congratulations on your preamp, certainly a bargain at whatever the cost. Even better, it can be used indoors, unlike a burning bush.

Best Regards,
Terry
 
LOL best reply ever

yes i think your name did come up in that conversation, also, belive it or not, the amp and pre amp i got for free brand new for my 15th birthday. they were i think 250$ for the preamp and 1,200$ for the amp.
 
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Enough! This thread has been cleaned up to remove insulting and off-topic posts.

Give the flaming a rest and stay on topic.
 
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up until recently, I put the preamp up there as every bit as important as the speakers for me, but someone pointed out how it may not necessarily be the preamp that makes or breaks the system, but it is the system as a whole - everything has to work together just right in order to get that special magic we may be looking for.
So if that expensive preamp is a part of the puzzle, to me it is priceless and the only reason cost would even be an issue is how long I would have to save or what I would need to sell to get it.
 
Well said donberry,

What it really boils down to is your needs, I for one can easily live without one. And BTW, certainly passives are as different sounding from one another as line stages. I recently had a shoot out with 3 different ones including a highly talked about LightSpeed which surprised me that I didn't care for it as highly touted as it was.

What I have heard that I liked is just to darn expensive and not that I have it in my system. I could DIY one and who knows what I could come up with but I haven't felt compelled to as the system is not dependent on it but it has the option most 2-$3000 tube line stages have so far just gotten in the way of transparency or were just sloppy and did not exceed the dynamic impact of my modified CDP direct.

Cheers

SET12
 
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