Ladder Bach Preamp Update and BONUS COMPARISON

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00:00 What's new?
05:48 vs Topping A90D as a preamp
09:08 Conclusion

Room test system:

Head-Fi:

#hifi #audiophile #preamp #stereo

[connorduke]

Interesting update. What is the best power amp match for Ladder Bach you have heard?

[jungtarcph]

Suggestion - I love to understand the difference between choosing preamps that are "full function-no sound change", or like this Class A, or a Tube preamp like the Musical Fidenlity - Schiit Freya. Also the difference between a passive or active preamp and a preamp vs linestage with gain. I think you can make a whole video just chatting about the different purposes and approach to match with gear.

[earmite]

It seems the Bach, Musician and Denifrips preamps are all made in the same factory. A comparison would be interesting if there are sound differences or just rebadging.

[robertgruber]

Seems like the Topping Pre 90 would be a better comparison but I'd really like to know about the Aune S-17 Pro as a speaker preamp. I've heard the class A warmth that everyone loves in the headphone amp does come through when used as a speaker preamp but would love to know your opinion especially as compared to the Ladder Bach.

[batcave]

Any chance tou could get your hands on a gustard p26 to review, would be interesting to see how it compares to this and theres no reviews online 🤦

[balooo]

I wonder if a decent learning remote would work with the Ladder preamp?

[sygnus]

I can't help but note that pre-amp looks a lot like the Denafrips line of pre-amps - Hades for example, especially the display screen. Even the aluminum remote is Denafrips like. I don't know, but it definitely looks a rebadged Denafrips Pre-amp with some "slight" cometic changes - knobs here are flatter where Denafrips are near half-moons. I don't know, maybe it's me.

[christianzambrano]

Is this the same as the Denafrips Hestia preamp? It looks so much like it.

[theodoroschronis]

Hello! Compared to Aune S17 Pro purely as a preamp, which sounds best according to your opinion?

[michaeltran]

Wonderful review and keep up the good job. You reviews are very informative. I would like to get one but I am no sure if Schenzen Audio is reliable as there have been so many bad reviews. Does anyone have any feedback from Schenzen?

[BobbyBass-xi]

Thanks for the update. Agree we need a remote in 2023. It’s not that I’m lazy. I just like to get comfortable when I’m seriously listening to music and a preamp remote adds to my comfort. Need to make changes and adjustments as needed between songs without breaking the mood in my listening room.

[jonathanhart-scix]

I bought this model with a remote, for what it’s worth and for me it has paired well with a Hypex Nilai power. Very happy with the performance, might even finally stop upgrading my hifi hardware. Maybe.

[rapier]

In reference to "decay", after a couple of years observing the audio scene after several decades of ignoring it, I've learned, along with a growing number of people, that the time element is just as important to satisfying hi fi as is tone.

[crownvictus]

How does the S17 Pro compare to the Ladder Bach as a preamp?

[janulik]

hahaha, you nailed it realy, ...."and it works", ..totaly agree, somhove doesn't fit into my had how this is even being sold without remote option, but what ever, Thx for the review I can shorlist now this one as well and come back to oreginal review

[kempfand]

@iiWIReviews Thank you for excellent review and content.

Does usage of such Ladder Bach pre-amp improve sound, as compared to feeding a good DAC with variable volume ( such as R26 ) directly into the amp ?

[ernestporee]

As soon as these become…obsolete ? Which is probably 6months or a year ? Or by the time next great pre amp comes out, or the next video ? I’ll get one and hear for myself…. As you can see balance is becoming more relevant in home systems. I work in the field and RCAs are nonexistent ! For many reasons, secure contact, noise reduction, and one of the most obvious is levels . 10db-unbalanced 4db+Balanced ! That alone will give you a truer idea of what’s going on with the signal? The main reason in professional environment is length of cables and noise reduction over long runs. You won’t have that problem in the home? But you will have the benefit of a higher cleaner signal! Most pro devices are made this way and now more home? Devices are using them cause they know the benefits. And people outside of pro audio are not on deck with big industrial connections! Sticking out the back of their equipment . So for the home and the market RCAs became the norm ? And the expense of designing true balanced for the home ?
What is normal for the pro industry…is high end ? for home use…

[howardmims]

I purchase this program and very happy with it I had a schiit preamp and sold it The high frequencies were not refined at all

[fletchermunson]

Don't let electrical engineers make marketing decisions.

[stiffwin]

I cannot find any online links to manuals/user guides for this preamp - do you have any links?