Preamplifier: Yes or NO ?

preamps can add some "solor" to the sound. given the dubious sound quality of most cds and some lps, a preamp, especially a vintage tube specimen, is necessary to avoid ear fatigue.

Mrtennis: What is "solor?" Regardless, you offer no proof -- just your opinion, which, given your stated preferences, isn't worth a great deal to many of us in Audiogon Land.

I have found that a Wadia 861 SE with the Great Northern Sound Company Reference mod run directly to my ARC VT100MKIII sounds pretty darn good with no "ear fatigue" whatsoever. It's crucial, though, to set the internal switches correctly so that the majority of your listening is done in the 70-100 volume range. A lot of people don't do that and conclude that it doesn't sound good. That is hardly the proper way to make an evaluation.

Oh, I tried several high-end preamps, including ones from Audio Research and Pass, and thought the Wadia sounded better IN MY SYSTEM without the preamp.

I think that if the current and impedance matches between the source and amp match well it is best to avoid the complexity, circuitry, and power supplies of an active preamplifier. You still need a very high quality volume control and there are not too many better than those found on the Placette passive preamps.

hi 9rw, i thought you gave up the hobby.

i meant color, not "solor". yes you are correct. there is no proof. as i have said before all staements dependent upon perception are anecdotal and hence opinion--yours, mine and anyone else.

i appreciate that you remind me what i have said in the past.

why is one opinion more or less useful than another ?

my preferences do not preclude me from honest evaluations.
i have no reason to misrepresent.

what one listens to in the privacy of one's listening environment does not benefit me in any way. i am not an audio dealer and i have no ego.

"I have no ego"

ROTFLMAO. If you have no 'ego' why do you argue or justify you posts when folks either denegrate you or your opinions. In truth I sense a huge ego lurking in at least your sub-conscious.

I find it facinating and yet cannot understand why you persist in posting about your personal audio preferences in an 'audiophile forum'. You are certainly intelligent enuf to understand that these opinions are clearly not representative of/or relative to the goals of folks buying equipment here.

It's as if you do it only to goad folks into responding negatively to you and/or your posts. But why would you do that? I guess I've have to get out some of my psych texts.