Should I eliminate my preamp?

alfa10069 posts04-07-2018 8:01amI do not have a preamp. MSB DAC direct into Pass Labs power amp. Previously it was Wadia DAC direct into Pass Labs power amp. Tried many preamps and always preferred no preamp.

Yes if you have a great source/s as you have had, this always seems to be the outcome.

If your source is not so great and needs some sort of colouration’s (tonal changes) to make it listenable, then a band-aid fix with a preamp can make things better, but picking the preamp with the right tonal colouration’s to fix the source is always a mine field, as all preamps sound different.

In my view it’s best to fix the problem (source), not to throw a band-aid on it.

Cheers George

I go back and forth with passive and active .One thing I have noticed using a $60 SMPro Nano patch volume controller with my all digital library is no recordings have that drive your ears to bleed like active preamps can have . Must have had a dozen or so actives in recent years , Certain recordings were improved with added bass and treble from a active , but more recordings sounded bright . Used to think it was the recordings when in fact it was the preamp causing the problems. I still am bringing in active preamps as it is part of my hobby and is fun . It is nice to have another method to try that can sit in a closet and not worry about the price while its not being used .

I do have a question regarding passives . The pot used in the SM Pro Nano patch I use I assume costs a few bucks . Would say a Alps volume pot have a different sound ? I would assume all passives should have a similar sound . Is there a way to alter the sound with a passive be it with different interconnects or like I mentioned different brands of pots?  

One last thing . I have had 30 pairs of speakers in the last 5 years and have noticed if a duller sounding speaker gets used with the passive it will sound dull . Add a active pre and that speaker wakes up a little . This might be why people prefer the active with their speakers . When Using a passive with higher energy speakers in the upper mids and treble and those speakers did not sound sterile or dull . All system dependent .

I switched from using a DAC direct to my power amplifiers to a preamp and never looked back. The addition of a preamp substantially improved my sound quality st all levels. It was a “huge improvement”. 

However, as was stated above, it is possible that going direct maybe thd best but I do not know your system.  All my testing proved to me that a preamp, in my system, produced the best sound by a huge margin. You might have to test some combinations in your system to see what you like.

As as you can see from the above posts, everyone, it seems, has a different opinion.  If possible, j suggest you demo with and without a preamp and see what you like.  I did this testing and purchased a preamp.