2. amps-preamps
  3. 1375199393

Preamp Noise with High-Efficiency Speakers

I have Avantgarde Duo Classic Speakers, I hear a very audible buzzing noise whenever I insert an analog preamp. If I run my DAC (AMR DP-777) directly into power amp, the noise disappears. I have tried 4 different preamps (tube and SS), 3 different amps, a bunch of RCA and XLR interconnects, the problem persists. I have tried dedicated power line and two power conditioners (with Multi-wave options) and various high-quality power cords, so far nothing works, and I am forced to run DAC-direct into power amp. The buzz is not very loud but certainly audible enough to be annoying. There's no noise running the same equipment and power source into regular speakers, I am pretty sure it's just the Avantgarde (104dB sensitivity). Please share your solution if you have had similar situations. Thanks!
yingtonggao
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
Sorry Roscoeiii, you need to read Nelson Pass's quote more carefully.

"just an input selector and a volume control.Hardly any noise or distortion added by these simple passive parts"
His B1 buffer is active

"no worrying about what type of capacitors – just musical perfection."
His B1 buffer is also capacitor coupled.

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
Also just to let you know that Nelson Pass originally designed the B1 buffer back in May 2008
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analog-line-level/80194-lightspeed-attenuator-new-passive-preamp-137.html#post1521766
to be on the output of the Lightspeed Attenuator so it could then drive low input impedance amps of 20kohms or less that some of his amps have that people want to use the Lightspeed with.
You can read all about it on the Lightspeed thread on diyaudio.
After that he released it in diy form with a passive pot for diyer's who wanted to use just a potentiometer as the volume control.

Cheers George
roscoeiii's avatar
roscoeiii
1,155 posts
 
No need to apologize George. I have found what works best for me in my system and am quite content. That happened to be an active pre in my case. Please do not take it upon yourself to put down what I have found to work best for me in my system.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
Not apologizing to you at all, just correcting your misinterpritation of Nelson Pass's statement, as you also did with my post.

Cheers George
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Roscoeiii and Grannyring,
I know others who patiently tried various passive components in their system based on the predicted advantages. Ultimately they returned to high quality active linestages as they provided a more realistic and natural sound that more closely mimics live instruments and human voice, just as you two discovered.No theory will ever substitute for the personal experience of direct listening with your own ears.Nothing.
Regards,
More to discover