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How much do I need to spend to get a preamp that sounds better than no preamp?

Hello all.
I'm using an Audible Illusions L1 preamp and I think my system sounds better when I remove it from the signal path. Oppo BD105 directly to SMC Audio DNA1 Gold power amp. I have read that there is level of quality you need to hit before there will be an improvement in sound. I can't seem to find what that level is. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Ben
honashagen
kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
@georgehifi 
Wrong yet again. That doesn't even make logical sense. Why would you amplify the signal to it's absolute maximum before attenuating it? It makes a lot more sense to feed the gain stage the least amount of signal to keep the distortion of the gain stage as low as possible instead of as high as possible. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
That doesn’t even make logical sense.

Read again sunshine, maximum master volume with minimum "tube gain" for loudest listening level. Will give lowest noise figures

I forgot to mention that when you purchase an Axiom passive preamp the mfg will ask you what power amp you will be driving so that it can be configured to deliver the best sound.
That would be say a 100kohm passive for amps like many Rogue Tube amps which are 1mohm input impedance.

Or at the other end maybe a 5kohm passive for amps with 20kohm input impedance. And then some in between these.
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
643 posts
 

"Keep in mind, there are no right or wrong solutions here but rather what the Op likes."

BINGO and again BINGO

Michael Green

www.michaelgreenaudio.net

kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
@georgehifi 
Yeah, you knob! I read what you wrote! Assuming the gain stage is after the volume and the front end is buffered, which would be the rational thing to do, it make no sense whatsoever to run the gain stage wide open. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
I never said to run the gain stage wide open and reduce it with the master, I said the opposite, who’s the **** now.
 I said before to lay off whatever it is others have said you consume, as it's doing you no good. 
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