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Can an Audio Research SP-3 preamp be used to drive K701s? Need advice.

post #1 of 7
11/28/08 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 
I recently and randomly came into an Audio Research SP-3A-1 preamp from 1976, and I am wondering about the best way, if it is advisable at all, to work this piece of equipment into my phone setup.

My question is whether the preamp can help me at all with this. The equipment at my disposal for this chain is USBDAC, Little dot mk III and the AR SP-3. Just wondering what the best combo of components would be. I also realize that I could just mess around and try things but I am pretty clueless about full size hi fi and I am worried about damaging my other equipment. Is there any way that could happen?

EDIT: If you have any advice about using a preamp at all for driving headphones, do tell. You don't need to be familiar with this particular piece to have advice that could be helpful to me. Thanks.
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post #2 of 7
11/30/08 at 2:35am
Thread Starter 
Anyone at all?
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post #3 of 7
11/30/08 at 3:51am
I'm a newbie so I don't have any idea what you're talking about, but it sounds interesting, and I'd love to see it work, anything from 1976+a high quality can from 2000+ must sound good.

Free Bump.
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post #4 of 7
11/30/08 at 2:24pm

SP3 preamp

tintin,
The SPs are sweet preamps and bring back fond memories of good sound.
Contratulations on your purchase!
I'm doubtful about its usefullness with phones. But have you contacted Audio Research? That's where I'd start.

FWIW, I'm currently using a Bryston BP25 preamp. Bryston is one of the few audio equipment manufacturers that includes top quality headphone amps built into its preamps. They are so good, in fact, that an outboard headphone amp is pretty much redundant, much to my surprise.
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post #5 of 7
11/30/08 at 3:07pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hatmann View Post
tintin,
The SPs are sweet preamps and bring back fond memories of good sound.
Contratulations on your purchase!
I'm doubtful about its usefullness with phones. But have you contacted Audio Research? That's where I'd start.
Yeah, I emailed them and just figured that I'd start a thread here too. I realize that I could just run it through my amp and see what happens but I am just worried because I know nothing about how high end audio works or about how much current I am dealing with and how it would translate, and I am worried that it might damage my amp or phones. Is there any possibility of that?

Even if it can't be useful with headphones it was free (I am extremely lucky and have a family full of audiophiles who have things like this sitting around in storage) and it is going into my own storage until I am out of college and can afford to invest in a speaker rig.
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post #6 of 7
11/30/08 at 3:20pm
I found this information on the Internet: ARCDB - SP-3

For one, it has an output impedance of 600 ohms. The K-701 is 62 ohms, so there's a significant impedance mismatch. That means a loss of power and poor damping. You'd probably have to use a pair of transformers to lower or match the impedance, at the very least. Quality transformers would run you $250-$500 or so, plus you'd have to build/buy an enclosure for them, buy jacks, and so on. For the same price, you could just buy a used Singlepower PPX3 or Melos (or a number of other quality headphone amps) and hook it to the tape loop out on the back of the preamp.

Most headphone amps can be used as preamps, but not all preamps can be used as headphone amps.
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post #7 of 7
11/30/08 at 4:34pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks very much, Erik. Guess the preamp goes into storage to await the day when I have more money to buy better equipment.
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