Do You Really Need A Preamplifier?

No longer needed or necessary? A question we still often get from our customers.

#hifi #audiophile #preamp #preamplifier #audio #homeaudio #amplifier #hometheater #dac #hifiaudio

[adsph]

Timely message Lou. Some say pre amps not needed and some say they are. Like you said the sound is just better with. If I have that right.

[keithkohley]

It's rare, refreshing and makes so much more sense to hear the terms "rhythm, pitch and emotion" when evaluating the sound quality of a high fidelity audio system.

[carlitomelon]

My experience with the Bryston B3sst is that a lower gain preamp works well.
I experimented with the 4 available gain settings and high or low gain tubes in my Musical Paradise MP701mk2 preamp.
I recently added a DENAFRIPS Hestia12th for a fully balanced SS alternative preamp. It is dual buffered unity "gain", .
I disabled smart gain on the streamerand used the high sensitivity switch on the amp.

Of course you need s preamp for input switching and remote volume control;-)
🎵🎶😀🎶🎵

[dajikbatarang]

I agree with you that a preamp makes a huge difference and is a must for 99% of cases. That being said I have heard a couple of DACs that sound just as good as a high end preamp. Ofcourse those are the exceptions and not the rule.

[RoyFJ]

I have eliminated a layer of noise by replacing my preamplifier to a Yamaha WXC 50 thats also my streamers and never been happier. The WXC 50 does have a preout.

[titntin]

As someone who ran their Auraluic G1 directly into a power amp for a few years, you'd think I'd be saying a pre amp is not needed, but having since done some tests - you should really use a preamp. The difference is not subtle.
I'm now using a mcintosh tube pre hybrid integrated and couldn't be happier.

[svtcontour]

I'm pretty sure I've read that any input that is of high impedence does not really need any buffering. So an amp that has 40K, 50K, 100K..etc input wont need any buffering.

[mrpmj]

yes if you want better sound quality. I have the Parasound 2100 (i need a home theater bypass, left/right balance, tone controls treble and bass, and an extra set of outputs for the 2 subwoofers besides the main speakers).

source =Apple music lossless

[trippmoore]

What about power amps that have their own gain controls. Same issue or do they employ a buffered input stage like a pre-amp.

Do external powered phono pre-amps have buffered inputs and thus the output can go straight to a power amp?

Thanks for the info. It’s invaluable.