My current rig uses:
So i want to replace my "preamp" stage. Of my two preamps, the stepped attenuator is 100% neutral, but my power amp is only 5w so on some speakers I cant get enough volume. I also wonder if maybe i want a bit more lushness. my amp and dac are both warm, but who couldn't do with some tube love?
I dont want a preamp that's TOO tubey. combined with the DAC and amp, i think it would be over the top. I just wouldn't mind a bit of tube lushness. 300b tends to be nice and clean. tube, but not too tubey
A solid state preamp would also be fine; but it would have to be nice, /i dont want it to be the weakest linnk
Anyone have any suggestions? Lets not get too wild with price either
Thanks
Hugz
- Storm Dac d02 (NOS. Very rich and warm sounding)
- either stepped attenuator, or a tube preamp that i dont like much
- Firstwatt F2 power amp (Solid state, mosfet, single ended transconductance amplifier)
- speakers or headphones
So i want to replace my "preamp" stage. Of my two preamps, the stepped attenuator is 100% neutral, but my power amp is only 5w so on some speakers I cant get enough volume. I also wonder if maybe i want a bit more lushness. my amp and dac are both warm, but who couldn't do with some tube love?
I dont want a preamp that's TOO tubey. combined with the DAC and amp, i think it would be over the top. I just wouldn't mind a bit of tube lushness. 300b tends to be nice and clean. tube, but not too tubey
A solid state preamp would also be fine; but it would have to be nice, /i dont want it to be the weakest linnk
Anyone have any suggestions? Lets not get too wild with price either
Thanks
Hugz