Preamp upgrade from AMR DP 777

[reignofchaos]

So here is the deal - I have been looking for a standalone preamp and have been completely unsuccessful in finding a better one than the inbuilt analog volume control in my AMR DP 777 DAC. I use this - even my EAR phono preamp feeds into the analog section of this DAC.

Have tried the following and have come back to the internal preamp:

Audio research LS26/Ref6
BAT VK33SE
Jeff Rowland Coherence 2
Acoustic Portrait Thiyaga
Pass XP12
McCormack RLD-1

What do I really look at? Has anyone upgraded from the internal preamp of this dac without spending megabucks? I am completely lost now and am thinking of stopping my search.

 

[prem]

The pre amps you have tried are all average or below average.

Get the Supratek DHT pre

 

[reignofchaos]

The pre amps you have tried are all average or below average.

Get the Supratek DHT pre

Actually I tried the Supratek two box unit too. I think it was called Cortese. Forgot to mention about it. Sounded bloated unfortunately.

 

[prem]

Ok. That’s surprising. It’s a very good pre. Doesn’t sound bloated. Maybe it had no synergy with the equipment you had.

 

[reignofchaos]

Ok. That’s surprising. It’s a very good pre. Doesn’t sound bloated. Maybe it had no synergy with the equipment you had.

Quite possible! However it wasn't the quietest unit either. That kind of made me discount it more than anything. Everything else in the chain is absolutely dead quiet inspite of it being tube.

 

[prem]

It’s normally nice to get a pre of the same brand as the power or the phono. IME too much mix n match causes a lot of issues.

 

[prem]

If you are not looking for gain, EMIA autoformer by Dave Slagle or Music First are good.

 

[prem]

Quite possible! However it wasn't the quietest unit either. That kind of made me discount it more than anything. Everything else in the chain is absolutely dead quiet inspite of it being tube.

I don’t know which model I heard, but it was dead quiet. Also fairly neutral. What I heard was definitely not bloated and played dead quiet. The problems you were hearing could have been because of a bad tube.

But I can understand once you have had such an experience with a brand, you definitely don’t want to look at it.

 

[reignofchaos]

If you are not looking for gain, EMIA autoformer by Dave Slagle or Music First are good.

Had read about the EMIA - my current preamp doesn't have gain and I do not think it's a handicap. This sounds like a real nice option!

 

[prem]

Have you tried the simple Micro Zotl which Arjun uses. It’s a quiet, fast, dynamic, transparent pre.

 

[reignofchaos]

Have you tried the simple Micro Zotl which Arjun uses. It’s a quiet, fast, dynamic, transparent pre.

I have been bugging him to get it over. I hope he does soon . I was seriously considering Dave Berning's full size preamp if this sounded good.

 

[prem]

You don’t need the full sized pre. The micro Zotl is good enough. You just need to figure if it works in your system. Chances are it will since Arjun also uses a higher end Tannoy and amp with KT 88 tubes

 

[bornfi]

Please check these too.

https://www.passivepreamp.com/shop/

Silvercore Preamp 324 from Germany. No longer made but check with the owner of the company or keep an eye on the used market. There was one available recently but gone now.

If you can manage DIY, https://intactaudio.com/atten.html

If you like passives, it will be nearly impossible for you to go back.

 

[prem]

Intact Audio is the same as EMIA. They are both owned by Slagle. I had used the Intact Audio autoformer vol control and requested Viren to incorporate into the amp. I am a fan of Slagle’s stuff

Silvercore usually uses silver winding in all his stuff. I would probably not go down the silver route for Tannoys.

 

[reignofchaos]

Please check these too.

https://www.passivepreamp.com/shop/

Silvercore Preamp 324 from Germany. No longer made but check with the owner of the company or keep an eye on the used market. There was one available recently but gone now.

If you can manage DIY, https://intactaudio.com/atten.html

If you like passives, it will be nearly impossible for you to go back.

My current preamp is a passive resistor ladder attenuator + tube buffer for impedance matching. So in a way, I do know what a passive sounds like.

 

[bornfi]

I have had some knowns around coming with silver/copper argument and I lent them my Silvercore preamp 324 to try to change their opinion. It is hard for me to deny the transparency silver offers compared to copper. I have compared mine with Music First copper based and found that MF narrows the soundstage.

Unfortunately, when I was in market, Slagle did not have the silver version of his autoformer but now he has and has it for a reason.

My current preamp is a passive resistor ladder attenuator + tube buffer for impedance matching. So in a way, I do know what a passive sounds like.

Which one is it? Asking because if I get an opportunity, can compare it with Silvercore and share the experience here.

 

[reignofchaos]

Which one is it? Asking because if I get an opportunity, can compare it with Silvercore and share the experience here.

It's a dac with built in preamp - AMR DP777

 

[himadri]

I have heard the ear 912 pre in my friend's system and liked it.

 

[bornfi]

https://www.passivepreamp.com/shop/

I forgot to mention that this company used Slagle's transformers at one point in time but not sure what they use now. But it is better to check.

Since this is an interesting topic, what expectations do you have from this new preamplifier, @reignofchaos?