Do preamps enhance sound quality?

[daltonknox]

I used a highly regarded passive preamp for several years, then borrowed a BAT preamp from a dealer. The sound improvement was so great, I bought it. When I went to a separate DAC (Benchmark) which had a headphone amp, I tried using it direct to the power amps, but the stereo image shrank to half size, so I put the preamp back.

[lsim]

I really love the topics and explanations that you talk about. As someone that's try to learn about hifis and how all the bits fit together these videos have been really helpful.

[newtondickson]

Every single time I have a question about audio, I Google it, and end up watching one of your videos. Thank you for what you do for us audiophiles! In this case, I had answered my own question and just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy. My story: For several years I had been using a Universal Disc Player, which has a digital preamp, as a source in my A/V system, and running it straight into a power amp. It sounded ok, but truly lacked pizazz. A few days ago I decided to put an old headphone amp (from another system) between the two, and the results were absolutely astonishing. It was actually just dumb luck; the headphone amp I am now using as a preamp is Class A, balanced, with XLR inputs and outputs. So yes, preamps can make a HUGE difference. But as everybody knows, it all depends . . . .

[tfaber]

I have heard sound systems that made me feel like I was In the studio. I agree with anything that brings that experience closer to my audience. (Ray Charles)

[tomhill]

Totally agree on the need for a good pre-amp. Back in the late 80s/early 90s, there was a push for passive preamps. I came close to building one until I heard one demo'd at CES. It sounded dull... A good pre-amp provides a vital gain stage to the signal, especially in analogue.

[dond]

You’ll be happy to know your good at these shows .thank you for the knowledge

[TheStuffMade]

Besides convenience and amplification, a preamp often solves impedance related issues, like capacitor coupled connections with high output impedance and low input impedance resulting in poor frequency response.

[mjjm]

I personally think a good quality pre does more to improve the sound than the power amp. Yes, you have to have a power amp that will drive the load, w/o clipping, but that being a given, the pre is king.

[gotham]

I have found the same thing. I even owned some older PS Audio preamps with the "straight line" option (5.5, 6.0), and preferred it with the line stage engaged. I'm pretty sure that it all comes down to impedance matching, and the inability of the source component's line output to drive some cables and power amp inputs effectively, especially when buffered by the passive volume pot. Impedance matching is one of those topics that too often gets ignored in high end audio.

[russellesimonetta]

I prefer tone controls to enhance cymbal sounds and string tone. So treb and bass are needed.

[supercardave]

From a reggae sound system perspective, the pre amp makes the sound!

[Bcwilderness]

yes they do and expensive it is especially when recording along with mics and convertors, all in one unit the prism lyra

[stevefick]

I have a Rotel RB-980 BX power amp and an old Hafler pre-amp. I switched my pre-amp out with an Adcom GFP-1 and WOW! What a difference! My Monitor Audio Silver 300's came to life!
So, yes, in my case a better pre-amp SURE enhanced the sound.

[Prodbyscrewhead]

I have a pioneer set to 3/4 volume going into a eq then a line driver. The output from the line driver enables me to have the gain down all the way on my amp which also helps my amp work less and have wetter bass = sound quality skyrockets. For only 600wrms on 1 ct sounds 18 she gets down. even if you have a aftermarket head unit (a preamp/line driver is a must in my opinion)

[BanBiofuels]

I like tube preamps mixed with solid state power amplifiers. When you have tubes in both power amp and preamp the sound becomes too pillowy for my taste.

[ProjectOverseer]

I discovered similar, Paul. I own a collection of passive preamps, some with switchable inputs. Then I decided to build (via a kit) an active preamp based on a Mark Levinson preamp mkll design. Though some components had to be sourced from Europe as well as the USA (including some recycled caps) to get it as right as possible.
I didn’t expect anything to work let alone sound good. After a short warmup, I thought something was wrong as I could hear what seemed like ‘strange harmonics’ deep in familiar recordings. Then I realised my mistake. What I was hearing was greater resolution. I was hearing details in the upper mids and extreme highs that I’d never noticed before.
Only three inputs, but that’s enough for most of my listening.
It has no phono preamp so I connected (for vinyl use) a schiit mani phono preamp (don’t underestimate this little guy as it sounds very high end with cartridges up to £1000)
And once again, everything seemed better. Only problem is (from an audiophile purest point of view) are we hearing added character or the truth?
Being able to test things in a studio environment, I can say it’s a little of both.
In the studio, various preamps are used from the mic’s to the 24bit digital desk which uses class A preamps with a huge 130dB of dynamics. It will also have a combo of hardware/software plugins adding EQ and various Effects (in moderation)
Very few recordings are ‘true’ audiophile inspired, sadly.

[sammassam]

I respect such elegant explanations. I always wondered why can't I feed a power amp directly through DAC, which never sounded better than with a high-end preamp. Thanks.

[SpeakerBuilder]

You should probably distinguish between the pre-amplification necessary for bringing up the signal level of a phono cartridge from a piece of a volt to signal level equivalent to the output of a CD player or other device, and on the other hand, simple attenuation/adjustment of the signal level of a CD player. The phono input is subjected to whatever the quality of that pre-amplification circuit, whereas the CD input is not. Having said that, the preamp, or what I like to call the control device, may or may not have an audible effect on sound quality for those devices whose input is already at signal level and is simple selected for and sent on to the amplifier. I would love to hear your comments on this.

[Gnofg]

I agree with him. A really good preamp is a game changer. I have a AVA hifi preamp and it is tube. The sound off it is wonderful

[jeffharper]

Before even watching the video, YES.
I just ran 2A3 mono blocks with their own volume knobs.
Very short signal path.
I then tried them with a Sonic Frontiers SPL-2 as good a preamp as has ever been made.

The dynamics were better, and the sound stage was bigger.

Trust your ears, sometimes the short path logic is proven wrong.