2. amps-preamps
  3. 1170049650

improving digital amp sound

Although I find that digital amps have many advantages, I have also found that the sound is somewhat lean and clinical. Has anyone found that matching a digital amp with a tubed preamp restores some musicality to the sound, or is it just a mask?

Thanks,

Rich
carinaram
tvad
9,467 posts
 
If you have to buy a tubed preamp to try your experiment, I'd suggest not doing so. It's not gonna get you where you want to go. Find some new amps. Digital amps are like Twiggy, or Paris Hilton. No curves. Tube amps are more like women with curves. Ever see a silicon chip? Lots of right angles. Ever see a tube? Curves, curves, curves... :)

BTW, not all digital amps sound the same, and you haven't mentioned which you own.
carinaram OP
7 posts
 
I have a Bel Canto EVO2.
hamburg
69 posts
 
I have a Mark Levinson SS Pre Amp and Amp. My phono Stage is tubed. BAT Vk 10se. Its the best of both worlds. I tried Aesthetics tubed Pre Amp with SS amp but did not like it.
ajahu
306 posts
 
Try to use a PS audio P300 powerplant. I have tried it with a Nuforce, and made it a darker, nicer sounding piece of amplifier.
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Carinaram, the Bel Canto Evo 2 is a very lovely power amp. PSCIALLI uses EVO 2 bridged to mono in a configuration fed by a VTL 6.5 version 2. The rest of the system consists of a ModWright 999 with all the most recent modifications and B&W 803 speakers. The result is stunningly beautiful, tuneful, delicate, detailed and powerful.
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