the tough question: Which preamplifier? and why

05-04-09: Fiddler
...the manufacturer of the Lightspeed, recommends no more than 1K Ohm output and no less than 47K Ohm input.

The input impedance spec recommendation suggests that tube amps with their high input impedance are a better match for the Lightspeed Attenuator.

Is there a consensus here?

05-05-09: Mrtennis
i too am looking for a preamp...

my choices are:

audionote kits l2, audiovalve eklipse, cary slp98 with audionote upgrade caps and art audio 1.

don't rely on opinions,
Mrtennis (Threads | Answers)

That's pretty funny.

MtT, you shared your four preamp choices, which in itself represents an opinion, and then you warned readers not to rely on opinion.

The irony was humorous.

But...if I have to explain it, then it wasn't that funny after all.

05-05-09: Mrtennis
hi tvad:

you are wrong. my quartet of choices does not represent an opinion. it is just a list of preamps.

No. You are wrong.

Yours is not just a list of preamps. It is a subjective list of preamps as you state in your post. A subjective list is in itself an opinion of four preamps you preferred and selected.

05-05-09: Mrtennis
hi tvad:

how can i prefer them when i haven't heard them. the list is an indication of
the preamps i want to investigate. there is no preference for any of
them.

Sure there is. There's clearly something about these preamps that caused you
to prefer them over 100 other possible preamps. Therefore, unless you put
all the possibilities on a roulette wheel and spun it four times resulting in a
random four picks...or, you placed all the possibilities on a wall, then
blindfolded yourself and had someone spin you around several times, and
then tossed four darts resulting in a random selection of four preamps, then
your subjective selection indicates you have a preference for the four
preamps on your list...for whatever reason. In other words, you have formed
an opinion regarding their suitability for your system goals.

We have to assume based on your posts that you are hoping for a warm,
caramel colored, rolled off presentation.

Good luck finding that.

I'm frightened by the possibility that you would continue this discussion until
each of us is in the Old Folks Home, and unaware of who or where we are.

So type away...but I'm done with this mini debate.

pv10 is 800 ohms and the Mac is 10Kohms so the 10 to 1 ratio applies...
Pops (System | Threads | Answers)

The numbers suggest this would be a bad match, and the other preamp with 200 ohm impedance would be a better match.

Does the PV10/Mac combo sound warmer than the other combo?

Pops, I would have expected you to say warmer and richer, but not cleaner highs.

Generally, high output impedance matched with low input impedance would result in a lack of bass definition and perhaps rolled off highs...thus a "warmer" presentation.