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Post by garbulky on Feb 3, 2019 17:37:14 GMT -5
I would like to point out that we don't KNOW that it has second order distortion. Going by Audio Gd's AP measurement it appears to measure very very well. However, some AudioScience reviews of some of audio gd's (cheaper DACs) do show that perhaps these measurements aren't necessarily real. So I don't know how valid it is. But the only info we have shows really low distortion levels.
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 4, 2019 6:28:21 GMT -5
I had the opportunity to visit my audio amigo, Russell, yesterday. For this week, Russell's rig consisted of: Jolida tube DAC (modded) Passive preamp (modded) Dahlquist subwoofer crossover (modded) Quicksilver mono tube power amps (for speakers) Crown power amps (for subs) Thiel 5.1 speakers Crown 12" passive subs (two) Interconnects = home-made RCA Subwoofer wire = Home Depot solid-strand Romex Speaker wire = 16 ga. home-made I'd have to say that Russell's system is the best I've heard (anywhere, any time). It produces holographic imaging and very deep, articulate bass. garbulky has also heard this system and considered it a revelation. So why am I talking about Russell's system in the context of this preamp thread? Because the Audio-GD HE-1 preamp makes my system sound a LOT like Russell's. No, the little Klipsch RP-600M speakers I'm currently using don't fill the room like those big Thiel 5.1s of Russell's, but the spaciousness, depth, and dynamics are at least similar. In fact, more similar than I've heard so far in my room. Now obviously, my system won't play at a fraction of the volume that Russell can get (he seems to have infinite volume capability), but within their limits, the little Klipsch speakers get the job done. I'm expecting that my Thiel 1.6 speakers will do even better. But to summarize - My Oppo, crossover, amps, and speakers have never, ever reminded me much of the "Russell sound" until I added the Audio-GD HE-1 preamplifier. Is this lucky synergy with some other component in my system, or does the preamp itself make the difference? I'm tending toward the latter at this time, but will need to listen more before any conclusions. My raving about this preamp has scared garbulky off. He fears that if he hears it, he'll want one too, and at this time, his budget is nowhere near adequate for such a purchase. But I predict that within a week or two, his curiosity will exceed his fiscal prudence and he'll drop in for a listen. I'd be most curious to hear his opinion of the preamp. Boom
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Post by dsonyay on Feb 4, 2019 7:39:29 GMT -5
One of these days I may build a nice tube preamp and tube amp. my friend is a very good ET type with solid soldering and schematic reading skills. He keeps bugging me to do a low powered simple kit.
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Feb 4, 2019 11:54:04 GMT -5
I've owned several of Audio G*D's DACs and headphone amps over the years. They were all indeed made like tanks.... and the mechanical fit and finish was excellent... although a bit "industrial". (They tend not to bother to recess screw heads or include rubber feet.... and, on one, the model number was on a plain white paper adhesive label on the back.)
I do find their philosophy of having several different models and options, many of which sound somewhat different, to be somewhat disquieting (I very much prefer at least aiming for neutral sound). However, all of the ones I had performed nicely, and sounded quite good. They do favor variety; for example, rather than choose a particular type of DAC, they offer delta-sigma DACs, and Sabre DACs, and NOS DACs.
(They do seem to favor a LOT of parts - especially capacitors and little transistors.)
I absolutely agree that the goal of preamp is NOT to impart any sound of its own. "Passive preamps" do well in this regard - but are very limited in terms of compatibility. - Passive preamps tend to have a low input impedance - which means they don't work well with tube sources unless they have cathode follower outputs. - Passive preamps tend to have a high output impedance, which means they don't drive some solid state gear well, and tend to have trouble with long interconnects (HF roll off and hum pickup). - And, of course, most "passive preamps" are just a potentiometer - and so have a gain of less than 1. - (Some passive preamps use transformers or autoformers, which can have voltage gain, but tend to be very expensive, only offer a stepped gain control, and have other issues). I currently own a Audio GD DAC and these things are built like tanks!
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