Tube preamp w/ Integrated Amp?

[Msas]

Hello, happy new year to everyone... i am the owner of a vintage integrated amp, the Kenwood KA-5700, and was wondering if it's possible to add a tube preamp in between the source and the Kenwood. I realize the 5700 is not setup to be used with a preamp but was wondering if one could use a set of rca's from the preamp to one of the inputs, tape, AUX, etc on the Kenwood.

Thanks, Mark

 

[elcoholic]

Welcome and yes, but it's not an ideal way to go as system hum from the external pre will be amplified by the gain in the 2nd pre. I've tried the same approach with the pre-out on my Schiit Lyr HP amp and the hum gets objectionable above 40% volume. I get some tubeness, but not enough. Better to use a tube processor in a tape loop if your receiver has tape monitor capability. Alternately you can use a tube phono stage connected to the aux input and a tube dac for digital sources.

 

[Msas]

Thanks, i believe it does have tape monitor capability, how do you create the loop? a jumper?

Here's the front -

 

[PR Audio]

Welcome and yes, but it's not an ideal way to go as system hum from the external pre will be amplified by the gain in the 2nd pre. I've tried the same approach with the pre-out on my Schiit Lyr HP amp and the hum gets objectionable above 40% volume. I get some tubeness, but not enough. Better to use a tube processor in a tape loop if your receiver has tape monitor capability. Alternately you can use a tube phono stage connected to the aux input and a tube dac for digital sources.

He is right, but it doesn't happen always. Try it first, if you get hum, then proceed as instructed.

 

[elcoholic]

Leave your sources connected to the receiver. Run left and right RCA's from Receiver's Tape A Rec Out to a non-phono input on the tube preamp. Run a 2nd pair of RCA's from the tube preamp's output to the receiver's Tape A Playback. Same connections as a tape deck, but using the preamp instead of a tape. To include the tube preamp in the path flip the tape monitor switch up to A. Start with the tube pre's vol at about 1/3 and go from there.

Thanks, i believe it does have tape monitor capability, how do you create the loop? a jumper?

Here's the front -

 

[Portkula]

Hello, happy new year to everyone

Happy new year.

...i am the owner of a vintage integrated amp, the Kenwood KA-5700, and was wondering if it's possible to add a tube preamp in between the source and the Kenwood.

What for? To spoil the sound of an amp having 0,04% THD, at the limit of THD that may become audible in some cases if higher?

Or are its distortions already audible? Then, to aggravate them?

 

[Aeon]

Gone, but not forgotten...