Sorry, hit post before I was done...
then all the music you listen to will literally be like listening to it for the first time.
then all the music you listen to will literally be like listening to it for the first time.
What will a preamp do for me?
Missing in the chain below is a preamp - I use the DAC to control volume. This is my only source and will be for some time. What could I gain by adding a preamp?
I have Thiel CS 2.3s driven by a BAT VK-55, sourced by PS Audio PW DAC, with bridge II, mostly tidal. The DAC serves as a preamp in terms of volume control. Mostly Audioquest cables, amp power cord is Cardas Clear m, all fed by PS Audio upc-200.
I am am hoping to improve the highs, which sometimes sound smeared, too much sibilance; would like more air and clarity. Loud rock sounds flatter, less dynamic than I’d like. I am not willing to give up the deep detailed and beautifully resonant mids. Willing to spend up to $3000, used is ok. Totally balanced is a must. Not currently willing to entertain the idea of different speakers - my goal is to make the 2.3s sound as good as reasonably possible before moving on to other speakers. It’s easy to find a really good preamp in this price range, so much so I am almost paralyzed by the choices. Aesthetix , Ayre, ARC, several BAT, Parasound and more all have apparently excellent models in my price range. Patience would put Atma-sphere and PS Audio within reach. Which is best for my situation? There’s no way to audition all of these, how could I avoid getting on a preamp merry-go-round? Or should I spend my money elsewhere?
I have Thiel CS 2.3s driven by a BAT VK-55, sourced by PS Audio PW DAC, with bridge II, mostly tidal. The DAC serves as a preamp in terms of volume control. Mostly Audioquest cables, amp power cord is Cardas Clear m, all fed by PS Audio upc-200.
I am am hoping to improve the highs, which sometimes sound smeared, too much sibilance; would like more air and clarity. Loud rock sounds flatter, less dynamic than I’d like. I am not willing to give up the deep detailed and beautifully resonant mids. Willing to spend up to $3000, used is ok. Totally balanced is a must. Not currently willing to entertain the idea of different speakers - my goal is to make the 2.3s sound as good as reasonably possible before moving on to other speakers. It’s easy to find a really good preamp in this price range, so much so I am almost paralyzed by the choices. Aesthetix , Ayre, ARC, several BAT, Parasound and more all have apparently excellent models in my price range. Patience would put Atma-sphere and PS Audio within reach. Which is best for my situation? There’s no way to audition all of these, how could I avoid getting on a preamp merry-go-round? Or should I spend my money elsewhere?
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- 67 posts total
thosb thosb Looking at all your specs: By going direct from PS Audio to Bat 55 and using the Bat’s volume control, specs below shows you have a perfect match with it and the most transparent and dynamic way you will hear your system. If your getting "smearing of the highs" putting an expensive preamp in the chain will not fix the problem, all it can do is color it more, the problem lays elsewhere. Specs In the Stereophile review below of your PS dac they said below. This maybe colored by getting the very fine Shiit $149 http://www.schiit.com/products/loki an equalizer that a few here love for what it can do for a problem system, and you can send it back, if it don’t work. " My first impression was that the PS Audio was rounding off the attack components of notes to the detriment of their sonic physicality, seemed a bit rounded off and lacking the immediacy of, say, Bricasti’s fine M1 DAC" New firmware seemed to fix some of this, but the way they described it wasn’t convincing, to me at least.. Listening with new firmware Cheers George |
- 67 posts total