Vote

What type of preamp do you use? Why?

Mark Gdovin  |  Dec 9, 2001

Analog or digital, tube or solid-state, stereo or multi-channel, minimalist or full-featured? Reader Mark Gdovin wonders what type of preamp readers are using in their systems.

What type of preamp do you use? Why?
Full-featured solid-state analog two-channel
16% (63 votes)
Minimalist solid-state analog two-channel
19% (74 votes)
Full-featured solid-state digital two-channel
1% (3 votes)
Minimalist solid-state digital two-channel
2% (7 votes)
Solid-state analog multi-channel
1% (4 votes)
Solid-state digital multi-channel
6% (23 votes)
Full-featured tube two-channel
18% (68 votes)
Minimalist tube two-channel
19% (75 votes)
Tube multi-channel
1% (4 votes)
No preamp, direct from source to amp
11% (41 votes)
Other
7% (26 votes)
Total votes: 388

COMMENTS
Pappy Melton's picture
Submitted by Pappy Melton (not verified) on November 21, 2010 - 10:10am

Color me direct. Got no time for other sources besides digital.

John LaPorta's picture
Submitted by John LaPorta (not verified) on November 21, 2010 - 10:10am

Been running my Wadia 860x direcctly to my ARC VT-50 for quite some time with excellent results. However, I have been debating the last few weeks of going pack to a preamp. Pure curiosity...

WW Gordon's picture
Submitted by WW Gordon (not verified) on November 21, 2010 - 10:10am

Just bought a Rotel pre-amp/processor for its warmth of sound.

Bjorn from Sweden's picture
Submitted by Bjorn from Sweden (not verified) on November 21, 2010 - 10:10am

Naim rules

Rod Sherriff's picture
Submitted by Rod Sherriff (not verified) on November 21, 2010 - 10:10am

I bought the Nagra PLP purely because it sounds superb.Plus you get a free phono pre amp and h/phone amp thrown in. A Bargain!!!

AF King's picture
Submitted by AF King (not verified) on November 21, 2010 - 10:10am

no preamp is the best preamp. period.

John Lendel's picture
Submitted by John Lendel (not verified) on November 21, 2010 - 10:10am

Arc makes the best pre-amps known including phono. Sound is great and controlled.

rsmithor@myfirstlink.net's picture
Submitted by rsmithor@myfirs... (not verified) on November 21, 2010 - 10:10am

Total passive tube pre-amp. Only active for phono playback. Top feature, a volume/level control for left & right channel.

Craig Ewing's picture
Submitted by Craig Ewing (not verified) on November 21, 2010 - 10:10am

Didn't know better at the time...

Dave F's picture
Submitted by Dave F (not verified) on November 21, 2010 - 10:10am

CAT Signature. with phono, heard many other pre-amps, and none have the dynamic ability of this for my system. The CAT rules.

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