2. amps-preamps
  3. 1324176017

TRL Dude Dilemna

Based on all the high praise for the TRL Dude preamp here and other sites, I took a chance and bought one from a local A-goner to see if it could displace an Air Tight ATC-2 preamp currently in my system. The two amps I currently use are a McIntosh MC-402 and Viva 845 SET Monos. It turns out that the Dude is not compatible with either amps due to an impedance mismatch. So I only got to hear the Dude in a compromised performance mode.
I was not quite wanting to give up on the Dude yet given everyone else's enthusiasm about its performance. I am considering the Samson monos as a natural match. I can convince myself that the Samson's could be better than the MC402..My real issue is that I would have to give up the Vivas. Not sure I can make the leap that a solid state amp will satisfy me as much as those SET Vivas. Then there is the leap of faith that I cannot hear the Samsons with purchasing them....
Has anyone replaced their SET amp with Samsons and remained satisfied with the decision? My speakers are the Green Mountain Audio Continuum 3 which are about 90db efficient with an impedance 6.5 Ohms, +/- 0.75 Ohms 150Hz to 20kHz. Thanks for your input..
tellefsen
jtwrace's avatar
jtwrace
425 posts
 
Purchase the new GT160 mono blocks from TRL and be done! They're a smaller version of the GT200 and much less expensive...in line with the Samsons.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Seems you should always choose your amp to match your speakers first, then find a preamp that works with you amp - just can't imagine taking the approach of making an amp decision on the basis of a preamp - especially if you already have amps you love that work with your speakers - unless you simply enjoy the tinkering and search.
jwm
908 posts
 
Keep the Viva in my opinion you have one of the best amps out there. I would rather buy the Viva preamp or similar one than give up that beautiful Viva.
jtwrace's avatar
jtwrace
425 posts
 
Also, have you contacted Paul @ TRL and see if he can change the impedance?
tellefsen OP
53 posts
 
I have been in touch with Paul and he has been very helpful. We talked about using something like Jensen transformers, but he does not like the sound of them. We discussed altering the input impedance of the amps..but when we found out that the Viva has in an input transformer, we ruled that out.
More to discover