Navyblue
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2008
- Posts
- 1,674
- Likes
- 15
For quite some time, I am in need of a stereo pre amp for my 5 channels Carver AV-405 power amp, which in practice I use it as 2 separate stereo amp (front channels for speakers, rear channels for headphone), with the fifth channel (center) left unused.
I see the following options:
DIY passive pre amp
I have been wanting to DIY a passive pre amp for months, but for various reasons I did not act on it. The main reason is the high output impedance, and I wonder if it is worth doing. I measured my power amp input impedance to be about 120K ohms. From what I have read the input with about 10x less output impedance is required, which is about 10k ohms. And I have problem getting hold of a Alps RK27 10k ohms, 20 and 50 k ohms seems to be more readily available. I even bought a casing for it.
Headphone amp as pre amp
Since I don't own a headphone amp. It might be a good excuse for me to get one. I am looking at the cheaper ones like the Little Dots or even Darkvoice. I am also considering DIY options. I could use the casing I bought for the above. I have a question regarding the DIY amps, do I just hook the headphone out to the input of the power amp to use them as pre amp?
I am open to both SS and tube. Would a tube headphone amp "tubify" overall sound when used as a pre amp? If so I am not too enthusiastic about it for my speaker. But for my headphone it is a welcome addition.
Integrated amp as pre amp.
I wonder if it make sense to buy a used old integrated amp as pre amp. They are dirt cheap and readily available, and I have problem getting a used pre amp. Would most of the budget ones be worse than a typical budget pre amp?
DIY speaker switch
This is be the cheapest way. I could split the 2 channels output to the 4 channels of the power amp. I could made a switch box to disconnect the speakers when I don't want them to make noise. But it might not be a good idea to add one more switch in the signal path. though in practice it might not be noticeable and my speakers are pretty mid fi and used mainly for movies and rarely for music.
I see the following options:
DIY passive pre amp
I have been wanting to DIY a passive pre amp for months, but for various reasons I did not act on it. The main reason is the high output impedance, and I wonder if it is worth doing. I measured my power amp input impedance to be about 120K ohms. From what I have read the input with about 10x less output impedance is required, which is about 10k ohms. And I have problem getting hold of a Alps RK27 10k ohms, 20 and 50 k ohms seems to be more readily available. I even bought a casing for it.
Headphone amp as pre amp
Since I don't own a headphone amp. It might be a good excuse for me to get one. I am looking at the cheaper ones like the Little Dots or even Darkvoice. I am also considering DIY options. I could use the casing I bought for the above. I have a question regarding the DIY amps, do I just hook the headphone out to the input of the power amp to use them as pre amp?
I am open to both SS and tube. Would a tube headphone amp "tubify" overall sound when used as a pre amp? If so I am not too enthusiastic about it for my speaker. But for my headphone it is a welcome addition.
Integrated amp as pre amp.
I wonder if it make sense to buy a used old integrated amp as pre amp. They are dirt cheap and readily available, and I have problem getting a used pre amp. Would most of the budget ones be worse than a typical budget pre amp?
DIY speaker switch
This is be the cheapest way. I could split the 2 channels output to the 4 channels of the power amp. I could made a switch box to disconnect the speakers when I don't want them to make noise. But it might not be a good idea to add one more switch in the signal path. though in practice it might not be noticeable and my speakers are pretty mid fi and used mainly for movies and rarely for music.
