1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 1241394471

the tough question: Which preamplifier? and why

The amp is a GRAAF iti 50/50
tube amplifier, 50W, input sen of 1.4V

and the choices are:

A. Placette (passive linestage) to keep the system simple and clean, the amp has good numbers
B. McIntosh C15 (solid state with phono)keep things from getting sluggish, don't need a prephono,
C. Audio Note M2 (tube with phone)

thanks in advance
travisr
gregm
3,021 posts
 
I, too, would be wary of your choices -- not because they are bad products but because of their "synergy" -- except for the passive. (For the latter, check your amp's specs, of course, or ask Placette directly)

BTW, why not get a used CAT pr? Plenty of dynamic content & driving energy to make yr Graaf sing.
donaudio
129 posts
 
Agree with the CAT pre but would also consider A Joule pre.
fiddler
581 posts
 
Clio,

George, the manufacturer of the Lightspeed, recommends no more than 1K Ohm output and no less than 47K Ohm input.

Frankly, I am shocked at how good this preamp is.
clio09
2,978 posts
 
Fiddler, thanks I was not aware of that.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
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?
More to discover