[intedinator]

I’m about to join the ranks of the ampsandsound community. Just purchased a used late version of the Bigger Ben (rev 1 with some rev 2 features). Big thanks to Justin @ampsandsound for answering a lot of questions. I really appreciate the personal interaction that comes with this hobby with certain manufacturers like ampsandsound, ZMF (I have a stabilized VC), and JDS Labs. I’m also wondering about preamps, and trying to get my head wrapped around them, and watching the ongoing discussion on this thread. What are the characteristics I should be looking at in a preamp? I can see that the BB amp has an input sensitivity of 3.1V, so a preamp that can provide that voltage will be able to drive the BB to full volume. But I’m sure there are current and impedance considerations there too. Any guidance for a semi-technically minded tube amp newbie?

 

[ItHz]

I’m about to join the ranks of the ampsandsound community. Just purchased a used late version of the Bigger Ben (rev 1 with some rev 2 features). Big thanks to Justin @ampsandsound for answering a lot of questions. I really appreciate the personal interaction that comes with this hobby with certain manufacturers like ampsandsound, ZMF (I have a stabilized VC), and JDS Labs. I’m also wondering about preamps, and trying to get my head wrapped around them, and watching the ongoing discussion on this thread. What are the characteristics I should be looking at in a preamp? I can see that the BB amp has an input sensitivity of 3.1V, so a preamp that can provide that voltage will be able to drive the BB to full volume. But I’m sure there are current and impedance considerations there too. Any guidance for a semi-technically minded tube amp newbie?

What DAC do you intend you use? The outputs may be sufficient to drive the BB to satisfactory levels or beyond as "full volume" may be well past ear-bleeding levels. I currently feed my amp directly from the DAC's fixed voltage outputs and am currently limited to just the first 4-5 clicks on the amp's attenuator.

 

[DenverW]

^ I’m curious if a preamp would improve sound quality, but my BB Rev 1 doesn’t lack volume and power. With 300 ohm gear on high impedance I’m not hitting 9 pm on the volume knob.

 

[WillieB]

^ I’m curious if a preamp would improve sound quality, but my BB Rev 1 doesn’t lack volume and power. With 300 ohm gear on high impedance I’m not hitting 9 pm on the volume knob.

Does the BB Rev 1 have input transformers?

What DAC do you intend you use? The outputs may be sufficient to drive the BB to satisfactory levels or beyond as "full volume" may be well past ear-bleeding levels. I currently feed my amp directly from the DAC's fixed voltage outputs and am currently limited to just the first 4-5 clicks on the amp's attenuator.

Another thing to keep in mind in digital systems is EQ. If you are using any type of EQ on the digital side, you likely have some negative pre-amp gain setting there, this tends to decrease overall volume. The pre-amp can help make up for this on the analog side.

 

[intedinator]

What DAC do you intend you use? The outputs may be sufficient to drive the BB to satisfactory levels or beyond as "full volume" may be well past ear-bleeding levels. I currently feed my amp directly from the DAC's fixed voltage outputs and am currently limited to just the first 4-5 clicks on the amp's attenuator.

I’ll use my JDS Labs Element II for now. It puts out up to 2V in low gain, and up to 9.5V in high gain, either of which, to your point, will be adequate for the 300 ohm VC. I’m just thinking down the road.

 

[intedinator]

^ I’m curious if a preamp would improve sound quality, but my BB Rev 1 doesn’t lack volume and power. With 300 ohm gear on high impedance I’m not hitting 9 pm on the volume knob.

That’s what I’m wondering, and what characteristics of the preamp (wherever that’s implemented) factor into the amp behavior and perceived sound quality. Some of this, I expect will be subjective and qualitative, which is fine with me.

 

[intedinator]

Does the BB Rev 1 have input transformers?


Another thing to keep in mind in digital systems is EQ. If you are using any type of EQ on the digital side, you likely have some negative pre-amp gain setting there, this tends to decrease overall volume. The pre-amp can help make up for this on the analog side.

I believe it does have input transformers. Good point about the EQ. I occasionally use some in Roon, but not often.

 

[duranxv]

I can confirm that a pre-amp will enhance your experience with your A&S amp. I took Justin's suggestion on using a pre-amp, and he was right. I use a Ferrum OOR + Hypsos stack as a pre-amp for the Nautilus, and I can definitely notice a difference.

 

[intedinator]

I can confirm that a pre-amp will enhance your experience with your A&S amp. I took Justin's suggestion on using a pre-amp, and he was right. I use a Ferrum OOR + Hypsos stack as a pre-amp for the Nautilus, and I can definitely notice a difference.

Thanks duranxv. I’m looking forward to learning more about Justin’s new preamp. He seems to have this down to an art form.

 

[DenverW]

I can confirm that a pre-amp will enhance your experience with your A&S amp. I took Justin's suggestion on using a pre-amp, and he was right. I use a Ferrum OOR + Hypsos stack as a pre-amp for the Nautilus, and I can definitely notice a difference.

I'd need to find a slightly more affordable option; that sounds absolutely amazing, but is a bit too much for me atm . If anyone has a suggestion let me know!

 

[duranxv]

I'd need to find a slightly more affordable option; that sounds absolutely amazing, but is a bit too much for me atm . If anyone has a suggestion let me know!

According to Justin, any decently built pre-amp will do the trick. I just happen to have had the Ferrum stack before I got the Nautilus

 

[AndyTheGreatest]

I'd need to find a slightly more affordable option; that sounds absolutely amazing, but is a bit too much for me atm . If anyone has a suggestion let me know!

I've heard good things about the Burson Soloist 3xp as a preamp, although I haven't tried this combination myself.

 

[WillieB]

I've heard good things about the Burson Soloist 3xp as a preamp, although I haven't tried this combination myself.

There is also the Topping PRE90 as a lower cost option. I have the A90, which has pre-amp mode and it's a very flat, neutral sound, which is what I would think is preferable. I would assume the PRE90 sounds similar. There are tons of options, but for $500, it's a contender.

 

[ozziegurkan]

The GT is really dynamic and energetic. It works really well as a preamp for it. I wanted to use it standalone so I bought the Pre90 instead and kept GT out of the chain. Bottom line is that the GT gives is more than the gain needed for the Bigger Ben to shine.

 

[ozziegurkan]

There is also the Topping PRE90 as a lower cost option. I have the A90, which has pre-amp mode and it's a very flat, neutral sound, which is what I would think is preferable. I would assume the PRE90 sounds similar. There are tons of options, but for $500, it's a contender.

I can vouch for the Pre90. It works really well and can’t beat the remote volume control feature. Plus the sound is super transparent and passes through the DAC untouched.