Do I Need a Preamp for My Stereo System?
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Күн бұрынWe are going to explore the world of separates in Hi-Fi audio systems, discussing their unique aesthetic appeal, flexibility, and how they can elevate your listening experience. I will also share some personal insights on choosing components that match your style and preferences.
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0:00 Do I Need a Preamp?
0:13 Intro
0:37 Flexibility and Customization
1:34 Superior Sound Quality
2:26 Upgradeability and Futureproofing
3:42 Channel Separation and Crosstalk
5:02 Final Thoughts
#preamp #hifi #audiophile
@brettw8664 Жыл бұрын
Thanks Mike, really enjoyed your Preamp vid. I am about to upgrade my system and you make a lot of sense of getting a separate 'preamp' and its benefits. Great explanation.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
Thank you for the kind words Brett!
@ealanosborne Жыл бұрын
Separates all day, baby. It’s hard to go back once you’ve heard the difference. 🔥
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
I absolutely agree!!!
@mikecampbell5856 Жыл бұрын
You are correct sir! Separates are the way to go, but due to circumstances and budget over the years I owned integrated amps and receivers. You are right about crosstalk. I can hear my tuner very faintly when I'm listening to another input. I know that's not true crosstalk but I'm sure it's similar. In 1984 my wife surprised me with a Harman Kardon PM-650 integrated amp with a matching TU-610 tuner. It's still my main system. I could almost count my Sabaj A10h headphone amp as a preamp. I'm using the RCA ins/outs as a remote volume control.
@nelsono4315 Жыл бұрын
another informative video. I have owned receivers and integrated amps but I have now been a separates guy for over 30 years. I love the flexibility. Definitely worth looking into for anyone putting a system together. For the longest time I had a NAD preamp and the Carver M500t power amp. I recently changed things up and got the Schiit Freya+ preamp and the Jeff Rowland 125 power amp. Excellent combo!
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
I would love to hear a classic Carver amp someday!
@defkon99 10 ай бұрын
You explained this very well. I'm using an Denon DRA-800H AVR and a Emotiva BasX A2 power amp. Using Preouts on Zone 2 (on AVR no other preouts) into the BasX. One thing I noticed is the sound is flat compared to speakers connected to the AVR (DRA-800H). Is this because the preout cleans up any sound processing that happens within the receiver like the Preout is not full range..? If so how can I go about getting that big sound into my power amp? Do I need a pre amp in between the Preout on the AVR and the power amp? Thanks to you or anyone who can help answer my q's.
@Jack96993 Жыл бұрын
I have two pre amps The Emotiva XMC-2 for my 5.2 system and the ARC LS15 tube pre amp with my VAC PA 100 100 tube amp for my two channel stereo rig I bought the LS15 & VAC back in 94 and they are still going strong I also have a Spectron musician MKII class D amp that i use to drive my Maggie's (tons of watts/current) and I find pairing it with my ARC LS15 tube pre amp really helps to bring some warmth to the music
@benfromhaarlem6617 Жыл бұрын
Nice and informative video! I'm a proud owner of the vintage '90's Sugden AU51 mkII separates. I think when choosing a pre-amp it should be (for synergy reasons) the same brand as the power amplifier.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
Sometimes mix matching brands works, but aesthetically same brand just looks so cool!
@rayk6049 Жыл бұрын
I’ve gone from receivers to integrated and finally separates. First Hafler, then Adcom and now Bryston 11B with a Bryston 4B amp. I’ve finally found the sound I was hunting for at the loss of vintage esthetics.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
Perhaps someday I will experience a Bryston, I have heard great things!
@tejkarangehlot4741 Жыл бұрын
Sir looking for preamplifier with sub out except parasound.. using P5 from parasound in current.. plz suggest 🙏
@magnaman94 Жыл бұрын
I'm rocking a musical paradise mp 701 mk2 it's designed to be customized by the user. You can change out the caps they are mounted on post. You can change the voltage of tubes to allow a wide variety.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
That sounds like fun I will have to look into it!
@RanTausi Жыл бұрын
To my second system I am using Sony str db830 receiver as a pre amp connected to ADCOM GFA 545mk2 , speakers are mint Bose 501 series 4. Sound incredible
@NaveedKhan-bs1sc 4 ай бұрын
Can i add a pre amp to an av reciver?
@daveweston403 Жыл бұрын
I have a Rotel A14 integrated which sounds great to me.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
Those are nice integrated amps!
@maidsandmuses Жыл бұрын
Another pre-amp advantage: if you don't already have a dedicated headphone amp, then pre-amps often have a better headphone output than integrated amps. Some dedicated headphone amps can also make for great pre-amps, if you don't mind a lack of tone controls.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
Same with phono stage which I should have covered as well. Thanks for adding some good info my friend!
@afrancois1968 Жыл бұрын
I bought a second hand Hegel P20, that serves in my analog system. Very good pre-amp if you ask me.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
I will look into it!
@seanlancaster Жыл бұрын
Hmmm. I was dead set on the Emotiva BASx TA2 to play my vinyl with klipsch 600m II speakers and svs 2000 sub. I have a Technics 1500 something turntable and upgraded stylus. I also thought I'd get a separate phono preamp and call it good. Now you have me thinking. My biggest current annoyance now is my Yamaha rx v385 receiver. It's not loud enough and I hear white noise when I turn it up. I want to listen to silence purposefully built into a song and hear nothing but I hear white noise.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
A separate phono preamp could be a better solution. Depending on your budget I would check out the used market over the Emotiva. You may get a better bang for your buck!
@dajikbatarang1 Жыл бұрын
In my experience after room and speakers, the preamp has made the biggest difference in my system. I started by using an integrated amp as a preamp then moving to dedicated units. The difference after each wasn’t a subtle one.
@Yiannis2112 Жыл бұрын
What happened to that Parasound P6 you had some time ago? Still have and using it? If yes, how does it compare to the Adcom?
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
I gave it back to Parasound, it was just a loaner. I did have it for quite some time. I feel the Parasound had so many amazing features but in pure sound quality the Adcom does sound a bit better. If I could find a preamp with Parasound P6 feature set and Adcom's SQ I would be in heaven!
@Yiannis2112 Жыл бұрын
@@mykandrew Thank you for your answer, Mike! May be the Leema Acoustics Pyxis preamp, is what you're after.
@Yiannis2112 Жыл бұрын
Or the current model from Adcom the GFP915
@thinkIndependent2024 Жыл бұрын
I absolutely love my AVR Yamaha RX-A3080 it has " Pure Direct" with XLR or RCA out my external amps take XLR and I get dual service 13 channel home theater along with beautiful 2 channel
@joeyahoo4493 6 ай бұрын
Im a minimalist bcs adding separate preamp could add colour to the sound. In my DAC's output already has a small output amp. While in a power amp, in its input there's already a small preamp. For a good channel separation, make the preamp & amp each mono block. I do it with my headphone amp. I was shocked to hear awesome soundstage & channel separation. I haven't done with my amp. I'm thinking to build a mono block 5 W amp. No need big-muscle amp. Even with 1 W amp (1 W output) is already loud. Unless you room is as big as auditorium.
@denteomd 6 ай бұрын
If you have time to spare, and I mean lots of time, I highly recommend the tube preamp kit from Bottlehead, Beepre 2. It has two upgrades which I highly recommend building. It uses 300B tubes, Dale resistor attenuators, solid state rectifiers, and mid to high end capacitors. It breathe in new life to your system. Once you complete the 2nd upgrade you will have xlr outputs, So my system becomes more flexible and noise floor is really "darkness". A really modern tube kit, not your old daddy's tube setup.
@calvinkan3449 Жыл бұрын
Mike, if you are looking for another pre-amp, u may take a look at Accuphase pre amp. The channel separation and AAVA volume control are really amazing.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
I will take a look at them! Thank you for the recommendation
@jamesfarrow6752 Жыл бұрын
Good call. I have Accuphase pre and power amps and I’m really happy with them.
@joeyahoo4493 6 ай бұрын
For a good channel separation, make the preamp & amp each mono block. I do it with my headphone amp. I was shocked to hear awesome soundstage & channel separation. I haven't done with my amp. I'm thinking to build a mono block 5 W amp. No need big-muscle amp. Even with 1 W amp (1 W output) is already loud. Unless you room is as big as auditorium.
@TheCharlesAtoz Жыл бұрын
Mike! What time of your life brought you to Adcom?
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
The 80s and knowing one of the engineers I admire the most, Nelson Pass, had a hand in some of their offerings. Once I paired them together I was absolutely in love with the sound.
@heavychevy4616 Жыл бұрын
thank u sir
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
My pleasure! Thanks for the support!
@ginopagnani7286 Жыл бұрын
What about passive pre-amps ?
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
They are basically a volune knob and a pass through for the signal. I would try active.
@pervertedalchemist9944 Жыл бұрын
There are vintage receivers that can be used as preamps as well - such as the Harman Kardon 330B.
@RanTausi Жыл бұрын
Old Nad as well
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
Preouts are hit or miss with some of the lower priced new products.
@stoicar 11 ай бұрын
Preamp that i like: burson soluist 3x with farad super3 lps, audio gd he1 vacuum xlr
@RanTausi Жыл бұрын
I own GFP 565 with mint GFA 555 MK2 , amazing system.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
I have the same setup. Incredible with my Infinity Kappa 8 speakers!
@RanTausi Жыл бұрын
@@mykandrew Enjoy my friend 🙏
@RanTausi Жыл бұрын
@@mykandrew By the way Grab the ADCOM and don't let it go , never !
@bedsbay1 7 ай бұрын
Is this a video on separates or preamps because it sound like a video on separates 🤔
@chrisp.916 8 ай бұрын
A great preamp : NAD M66
@williammilligan1451 Жыл бұрын
Try the Musical Paradise, had to put my Schiit Freya + as a secondary backup. Approximately $900.
@ferchur4833 Жыл бұрын
Did you prefer the MP over the Freya?
@williammilligan1451 Жыл бұрын
@@ferchur4833 Yes, better resolution, deeper sound stage and more being in the venue…Still love the Freya though.
@gene8933 Жыл бұрын
I don't understand why does my suggestion keep disappearing.Akitika PR-102 Stereo Line Level Preamp, . Remote control - you control volume, balance, and input
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the suggestion Gene!
@ranbymonkeys2384 Жыл бұрын
What i'm using is the Harman Kardon HK3390 as a pre amp. It's a 2 channel 80 x 2 amplifier but has separate RCA's just for using this as a pre amp. This amp is just a tad on the higher side so if you need to bring your treble up a bit this is the one for you. They are hard to find though usually can get them around 100 -150.
@ryanschipp8513 Жыл бұрын
Surprised you didn't mention a dac/pre as an option. Try a Nuprime Dac-10...$1749....sometimes used for about 1k. It's as quiet as a mouse......and it has plenty of voltage drive to work with any power amp. It's a diamond in the rough.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
I will check out the Nuprime, thanks Ryan!
@ryanschipp8513 Жыл бұрын
@@mykandrew you bet!
@michaelcollins2473 Жыл бұрын
If you use more than one source at a time (or your source doesn't have a variable output), you're going to need a preamp. Also, preamps usually offer some kind of tone and balance controls. Do you NEED one? Guess it depends on your answer to the above points. I think anything in between the source and the amplifier will color the sound to a certain extent. That's where the price differences come in. You can get a cheap preamp for under $1000. A good preamp will cost you upwards of $10k (some are much, much more). I use a Classe CP800 preamp (and a 200wpc Classe power amp). A nice transparent setup coupled with some good speakers, and all of a sudden, you can start to be able to tell the differences in sources, cables, etc...JM2CW. Buy what you like, like what you buy.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
Oooohhhh man Classe is some nice stuff!
@johngault-9597 10 ай бұрын
Man, you got lost, this was supposed to be about why I should add a preamp, not a discussion about the virtues of using separates versus integrateds...sorry...
@scottmuhlbaier1945 Жыл бұрын
My friend swore by simply using the "built-in" preamp out of the Oppo 205 directly to his amp... but with my all-analog 205-sourced system, I much prefer using first a M-Ch Conrad Johnson (MET1) and now an even nicer Audio Research (MP1) preamp...into a M-Ch McCormack HT5 amp. It's hard to fathom just how much of an importance a good preamp has on your system's sound! If you're looking for a used high-quality preamp check out the Marantz AV7005. One of the last truly made in Japan models, it has an excellent phono input, and even lamented HD radio is well-implemented - along with a very respectful preamp section complete with balanced XLR output. For some reason they're all over the place on the used market so you can get it for peanuts now...
@zergbong Жыл бұрын
pre-amp is basically a volume knob, there is no way it can improve sound quality. Also you most likely don't need it.
@NateEll Жыл бұрын
You’ve never heard a killer preamp. And what you are describing- “basically a volume knob” is a passive preamp. Yes, preamps make a difference and in my experience, a great preamp is even more important than a great amp
@fonkenful Жыл бұрын
The only small kernel of truth in those two short sentences is that a signal level attenuator (volume “knob”) can’t improve sound quality - that’s not its designated function, so yeah. Nat, it’s certainly true that preamps can affect the perceived sonic characteristics of a system, and that a poorly executed design can be almost insufferable, but it’s been my experience that the same applies to power amp stages - in the end I think it’s about system synergy.
@mykandrew Жыл бұрын
I have experienced both and a proper preamp can offer you a lot in sound quality and features. I would experiment!
@fonkenful Жыл бұрын
@@mykandrew Of course, the minimally “proper” pre-amp for any given system depends on use case, number and type of media/program sources, requirement for phono RIAA EQ&gain, DAC for raw digital streams, etc ad nauseam.
@Jack96993 Жыл бұрын
Don't tell my ARC LS15 tube pre amp it doesn't improve the sound of power amps
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