Shakeydeal Posted September 29, 2021 Share Posted September 29, 2021 2 minutes ago, Joecoulson said: Primaluna, McIntosh, Rogue Audio, Carver, but I have not had ears (except for Axpona) on SET amps for long periods. but the distortion to me probably sounds perfect to others. tubes have a liquid-y type sound that I’m not fond of. But many are. different strokes Duly noted. We all like what we like. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryGillmore Posted September 29, 2021 Share Posted September 29, 2021 10 hours ago, jimjimbo said: Since you have money to burn, go with Mcintosh MC30 monos, or an MC240 with an MX110Z preamp. You will be happy. Haha ok not quite that kind of money. I'm thinking more along the line of $3k-3500 all in. But I'd be lying if I said I haven't been looking at the Mc page here lately lol. I do want American made (assembled) electronics. Which is why I've been looking at Schiit so closely. I thought I had my mind made up until it came to my attention that they have a new and more powerful class A monoblock amp on the way (Tyr). So now I'm kinda waiting on that to be officially revealed. I do want a Freya+ pre though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik2A3 Posted September 29, 2021 Share Posted September 29, 2021 Approximately 45 minutes ago. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalifornian Posted September 30, 2021 Share Posted September 30, 2021 6 hours ago, CoryGillmore said: Haha ok not quite that kind of money. I'm thinking more along the line of $3k-3500 all in. But I'd be lying if I said I haven't been looking at the Mc page here lately lol. I do want American made (assembled) electronics. Which is why I've been looking at Schiit so closely. I thought I had my mind made up until it came to my attention that they have a new and more powerful class A monoblock amp on the way (Tyr). So now I'm kinda waiting on that to be officially revealed. I do want a Freya+ pre though. Was thinking about the schiit ageir for my uppers until i came across this custom made tube amp for about the same price. Ill have to check out the tyr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pondoro Posted September 30, 2021 Share Posted September 30, 2021 I have been listening to my new (1950's) tube amp for two days now. I am prepared to say it sounds different than my solid state 2020 amp. I could easily pass a blind test because between songs I can hear just a touch of background noise. I do not care about this noise as I cannot hear it when the music is playing, unless I stick my head right in front of a speaker. I like the tube amp better for 40's through 60's jazz and big band. I like my solid state amp better for loud rock. The only way I can describe the tube amp is "smooth." My daughter says it sounds "more viscous", as in water is less viscous and oil is more viscous. She means this as a compliment. I do not plan to take any blind test. They sound boring. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK Thom Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 I don't think the actual amps sound much different from each other - they are basically sending out electrical power. What does sound different is the pre-amp processors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joecoulson Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Completely disagree Used same preamps/sources with different amps and the sound dramatically changed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer X Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 I also struggle to find differences among preamps, to me they are switches and pots that sometimes tend to get dirty and noisy, and differences among different preamps are subtle. Preamps are boring when not troublesome. Amps are an entirely different story, to me they contribute greatly to the sound, although not quite as much as speakers of course. Also, it is very important to match your speakers with amps (or amps with speakers ?) that complement each other, or play nice with each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Literally everything in my system(s) influences how I hear it.....and different combinations give different synergies. Speakers, preamp, amp, DAC, tubes, interconnects, speaker cable, room treatment and most recently I discovered (and was surprised) that even different power cables influence the sound quality.I don't have a vinyl/turntable rig but that's a whole nuther can of worms right there.Like someone had mentioned, if you can't hear these differences consider yourself lucky. But seriously......not being able to hear the difference in preamps? That's the biggest one right behind speakers LOL.Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer X Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Hmm, interesting. Well, for me, preamps are important as a user interface. The feel of the volume and balance pots, and the flexibility of the tone controls and switches drive my preamp priorities. Recently discovered the power cord on my amps have an influence on the sound. I roll my own wires, and never noticed the power cord changes much. Then recently upgraded just the wire quality on the amp cords (cheap copper to much better silver plated copper), kept exactly the same format, gauge and plugs. Was stunned by the change in bloom, dynamic character of the sound. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 One of the most important parts of a preamp is the volume control. When you go from an ALPs pot to something like a transformer or LED attenuator the difference is not subtle. Stepped attenuators with silver contacts are very good too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer X Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Agree. Of the few preamps I've tried, the volume control was always different. Some were not so linear, they had a flat spot. The size, feel of the knob also oddly important to me. Also whether just variable, detented variable, or stepped volume control. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Then go with a tube pre/solid state amp combo.......or solid state pre and tube amp combo. Now we're getting freaky. Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer X Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Not so freaky. As you mentioned, various synergies at play with different combinations. Interconnect story: I run three, 1 M, 1 M, and a 2 M preamp to amps. Read somewhere they should all be matched and was able to find a 2 M length to match my 1 M 's. Was happy for a while, things were totally transparent. But then too transparent. Swapped back to my original 2 M and that added back some color that I found a little better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 I do something similar with my interconnects. Blue Jeans LC-1's are my go to cables. Full, rich and pleasant. Sometimes I feel the need to have some Mogami's in there. Less full, less rich sounding but with some amp/preamp combos they work.Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joecoulson Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 (edited) Middle of the road AQ speaker/interconnect cables and top end AQ power cables work best for me. Edited October 3, 2021 by Joecoulson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Next Week: EQ's, tone controls, subwoofers and pro-amps.Whatever it takes, baby. [emoji106]Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer X Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 I like the AQ, got some mid line Topaz for the 2 M run. Able to roll my own speaker wires and power cords, interconnects with shielding seem a bit more of a challenge I'm not quite up to yet. The old Distech Silvers 1 M s I have seem totally transparent compared to the AQ Topaz, I have a box full of those (AQ) I picked up on the cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer X Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Oooohh, pro amps, always wondered about those big monsters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted October 3, 2021 Share Posted October 3, 2021 Oooohh, pro amps, always wondered about those big monsters.Pro-amps in a second system for when I really rock out. Keep em in a second system so yer main system always sounds better/best. [emoji39]Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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