Is no preamp really better that a good preamp?

"finding a preamp that warms things up a bit to neutral, is just what I need to fix this problem."

You have hi-end components, and I think that's going to cost big time and a lot of A/Bing preamps just to warm the sound over and maybe loose transparency and detail in the process.

Better off trying to warm it up in other ways that are cheaper, like changing any silver cable/s for OFC Copper ones or change and sell the component that has the "cool" sound to a warmer sounding one. Your pocket will thank you.

Cheers George

Most of us need a preamp for various reasons - multiple sources, balance control, phase control. So, one needs to choose a preamp that synergises with the source. To change the K-01 entirely is not something my pocket will be thankful for.
We must have read endless reviews about a cool/warm source component and the reviewer will say, "Matching this with a warm/cool preamp is advisable. Preamp ABC with this source XYZ is truly a match made in audio heaven."
So, we try to mate preamp ABC or equivalent with the source. Either that or, we change the source altogether. The latter simply cannot be a fiscally reasonable option.

Cheers! J.

We (audiophiles) all try to get the very best possible sound that blows us away, then it's a shame that some of us have to compromise it because we need to change sources and are not up to just to unplug and change them.

This why I have a dedicated system with the least compromises in my hifi room, and another one in a TV room for all the other stuff/crap like surround sound, tuner, internet streaming ect.

Oh and I suppose your may have read this post about the K-01 which is Delta Sigma vs his older Reimyo R2R Ladder Multibit dac, which all the very best are starting to use again because this way of conversion it is said to give a better presentation of real music, the owner also missed the warmth of his Reimyo when he changed to the K-01

[url]http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1358613368&&&/Unsatisfied-with-Esoteric-K-01:-Alternat[/url]

So that's two of you with the same beef about the K-01, wouldn't it be better to fix the problem rather than just putting a very expensive band-aid on it, and causing maybe other problems.

Cheers George

That a component is cool or warm may not really be a problem in itself. It is designed that way and some audiophiles may like it as is. To match it with a synergistic component is an art for the audiophile to nuture in this hobby. And that's just what we try to do everyday instead of changing components right after just buying them new.
Cheers! J.

George makes a good point- if a preamp robs you of transparency and detail, its not helping!

The same can be said of an improperly applied passive control.

In both cases, audition is necessary.

It is not correct to say that all active preamps take away from detail and transparency or add colorations. Some give you *less* coloration with greater detail and transparency.

But it is also not correct to say that all passive controls take away from detail and transparency or add colorations. Some give you less coloration with greater detail and transparency; **in either case its all in the setup.**

The issue is you have to pay attention to variables and interconnect are one of the bigger sets of variables. For example, I like to have my preamp and turntable near the listening chair, and my amps as close to the speakers as I can get them. So my interconnects are 30 feet long. A passive does not work in this situation. To get around cable problems, I run equipment that supports the balanced line standard (defined in the AES file 48) and thus the cable does not contribute or detract from the sound.

A further variable in input and output impedances of the equipment in use. This can work badly with either active or passive systems- again- its all in the setup!

When the cable ceases to be part of the system sound (regardless of how you go about it), that's a good thing. If you are running a passive system, the obvious lesson here is keep your cables short!