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What solid state preamplifiers "Elevate" the material? In other words, sound "Musical"?

exwhyzed said:
Hi All,

I'm looking for suggestions for solid state preamplifiers that elevate the material put through them, and could be considered "musical."

I'm planning on getting a Yamaha RX-777, prompted by the recent thread here, and want to use its clear amp section with a musical sounding preamp.

One important criteria is that the preamp does not have any unobtanium parts inside!

I look forward to hearing people's experiences and suggestions!
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My personal experience is that it's best to have the amp and preamp as neutral as possible and voice the speakers to taste, rather than the other way around.

Passive preamp, power amplifier with flat response from 20hz to 20khz with low thd + the speakers that are voiced to taste.

Added bonus....No unobtanium parts the the passive pre!
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions and ideas everyone...keep 'em coming!

I haven't heard of most of the brands/models mentioned...I've got a lot to research and learn about ahead of me.

+1 regarding the No unobtanium parts @z-adamson , that's one of my must have criteria in this journey.
 
exwhyzed said:
Thanks for all of the suggestions and ideas everyone...keep 'em coming!

I haven't heard of most of the brands/models mentioned...I've got a lot to research and learn about ahead of me.

+1 regarding the No unobtanium parts @z-adamson , that's one of my must have criteria in this journey.
Click to expand...
Some preamps and amps use proprietary modules. Avoid those.
 
exwhyzed said:
+1 regarding the No unobtanium parts @z-adamson , that's one of my must have criteria in this journey.
Click to expand...

Very challenging with an active preamp, yet by the looks of it you are looking at active preamps.

Probably going to have to be fully discrete. Even then, many use at least a few transistors, relays etc. that are impossible to find at the usual, reputable sources.
 
I had a PS Audio 5.0 that could switch between active and passive (“straight wire”) … a little long in the tooth now, but still one of the better ones I heard/had.
 
exwhyzed said:
Hi All,

I'm looking for suggestions for solid state preamplifiers that elevate the material put through them, and could be considered "musical."

I'm planning on getting a Yamaha RX-777, prompted by the recent thread here, and want to use its clear amp section with a musical sounding preamp.

One important criteria is that the preamp does not have any unobtanium parts inside!

I look forward to hearing people's experiences and suggestions!
Click to expand...

RX-777 stereo receiver is a decent sounding amp. Preamp is reasonably transparent as well. I'm wondering if the speaker selection is wanting. What are you using? My speaker recommendation on a budget is Yamaha NX-E100. They feature solidly built cabinets and look and sound the part when paired with the 777. Here is my thread on NX-E speakers.

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...-e200-nx-e400-speakers-budget-busters.857973/
 
SoCal Sam said:
RX-777 stereo receiver is a decent sounding amp. Preamp is reasonably transparent as well. I'm wondering if the speaker selection is wanting. What are you using? My speaker recommendation on a budget is Yamaha NX-E100. They feature solidly built cabinets and look and sound the part when paired with the 777. Here is my thread on NX-E speakers.

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...-e200-nx-e400-speakers-budget-busters.857973/
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@SoCal Sam I actually have a used RX-777 on the way, as a result of the "flying under the radar" thread here! I want to tap a pre out of the warm sounding A-1000 and have it amplified by the RX-777 Top-Art amplification section and see what it sounds like.
 
exwhyzed said:
@SoCal Sam I actually have a used RX-777 on the way, as a result of the "flying under the radar" thread here! I want to tap a pre out of the warm sounding A-1000 and have it amplified by the RX-777 Top-Art amplification section and see what it sounds like.
Click to expand...

How about a tube buffer installed at the interconnects?
 
z-adamson said:
My personal experience is that it's best to have the amp and preamp as neutral as possible and voice the speakers to taste, rather than the other way around.

Passive preamp, power amplifier with flat response from 20hz to 20khz with low thd + the speakers that are voiced to taste.

Added bonus....No unobtanium parts the the passive pre!
Click to expand...
This^^^
Give me neutral. As for which is more musical, I think I would be looking to musical sounding speakers myself. But since this is one of those threads where everyone lists what they have or had I'll toss in my Kenwood 700C. Neutral along with the 3 Yamaha amps it drives that makes up my triamped system.
 
exwhyzed said:
@SoCal Sam I actually have a used RX-777 on the way, as a result of the "flying under the radar" thread here! I want to tap a pre out of the warm sounding A-1000 and have it amplified by the RX-777 Top-Art amplification section and see what it sounds like.
Click to expand...

Huh ??

You want to run a pre in to a pre ??
Or are you trying to use the phono stage of one pre and then use another for other sources ??

Usually the best course to a dynamic musical system is to keep the signal chain as short and simple as possible.
Trying a simple passive straight in to the amp is the most likely course .. $49 picks up a simple Schiit passive as a trial ...

Sounds to me like you're trying to mix preamp colorations with amp colorations which might create something that you like,
but that's not the course to "musical" ... as in faithful to the music.
 
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Akustic said:
Usually the best course to a dynamic musical system is to keep the signal chain as short and simple as possible.
Trying a simple passive straight in to the amp is the most likely course ...
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I agree. However, there are some people who aren't at all impressed by passive preamps, and ironically their usual criticism is "lack of dynamics".
 
rothwellaudio said:
I agree. However, there are some people who aren't at all impressed by passive preamps, and ironically their usual criticism is "lack of dynamics".
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I've been experimenting with a Dact passive I received a few days ago. I don't notice any lack of dynamics at all if it is in the recording. What I do notice is that although it will play loud enough for me at the highest volume settings it will not play at blast the neighbors level given my 2.0 volts for full output amps and my low efficiency speakers (magneplanars) If by "dynamics" people mean flex the windows sound levels I think from my limited experience it would take the combination of a high sensitivity amp with horn speakers if a passive preamp is being used.
 
rothwellaudio said:
Depending on what you mean by "low", I'd say there isn't a power amp on the market that doesn't meet that spec. There probably hasn't been a power amp made in the last 50 years that doesn't meet that spec. It's not a very high bar.
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I have seen some amps out there that don't rate at 20-20k. They rate at 100-20k or whatever.

And as for "low" thd.....take the average of all mid to high-end amps and shoot for something far lower than average. Thats what i mean by "low".

Additionally, it seems that some amps out there are not FLAT within the range of frequencies they reproduce. Some are intentionally colored it seems. Marantz comes to mind.
 
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rothwellaudio said:
I agree. However, there are some people who aren't at all impressed by passive preamps, and ironically their usual criticism is "lack of dynamics".
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Those are usually the guys that are in love with loudness and use speakers that can't stand on there own without "help" from tone controls and......loudness.
 
I'm guessing that by elevate music, you mean euphonically enhanced? Made to sound sweeter that it was. This is possible with preamps that have lots of controls and features like, tone controls, equalizers, 3D effects, loudness contours, and blending options. The Carver Holographic preamp would be an example.
 
Frank Sol said:
:)

It's a personal taste thing... However , I use a Yamaha C85 (Recapped by avionic) as my main Pre. I've had many many Pres in and out of my system but I go back to the C85

Top Class Phono section

Parametric equalizer

Can do crazy good hookups to amps

But... age can be a problem like solder joints. Need a good tech - IMO
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Agree with both Avionic and Frank Sol.

After trying a number of other preamps in my system over the years, I got a C4 which was truly musical IMO. Later on I got a C2a which is marginally better sonically.

BUT - all of these vintage units need a thorough going through by an experienced tech to sound their best and be reliable well into the future.
 
rothwellaudio said:
I agree. However, there are some people who aren't at all impressed by passive preamps, and ironically their usual criticism is "lack of dynamics".
Click to expand...

The devil with passives is definitely in amp sensitivity ... some amps are easy to drive to full potential with just the source's output.. others not so much.

And that can lead to a lack of dynamics, which to me means not ultimate loudness level but slap, slam, attack, bass control, and power ..
sharpness, thump .. there are a lot of words for it. Guess the opposites would be dull, flat, canned ..
 
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