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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Passive transformer based preamp
Post Subject: Re: Better among worst?Posted by morricab on: 11/5/2005
Hi Thorsten,
"I agree. I
have to note that even in active preamp I/We (the we are friends from
the London Live DIY Circle) tend to prefer TVC's over resistors."
Hmmm....I guess I can't really see that unless you are enjoying a
particular coloration you are getting from the TVC.
Afterall, as you mentioned the behavior of a transformer is non-linear
whereas the behavior of a resistor (a good one) is linear, lower in
distortion, and has no hysterisis (I think the same cannot be said for
a transformer). Resistors as a passive attenuator for sure lose
dynamics but they don't affect the signal in the ways I heard from the
TVC or the transformers in my Silvaweld preamp (which are good
ones). The Silvaweld, bTW, uses two 31 step silver attenuators
with metal film resistors for level attenuation, the transformers are
for balancing or unbalancing the incoming or outgoing signals when not
using the XLR ins and outs, which bypass these transformers.
As I mentioned, I do not use the high quality nickel alloy transformers
in my Silvaweld preamp precisely because I hear these
colorations. I have decided that even single ended sources are
better off going through the balanced inputs, which do not use the
transformers, than to use the transformers to convert the signal to
balanced. I also don't use them on the output. I have found
the XLR to RCA adaptors, while possibly coloring the sound, do much
less to the sound than the transformers. Now its not a bad sound,
mind you, its a little warmer and softer sounding is all but through
the balanced ins and outs there is extremely good clarity and low
coloration from this preamp and from the rest of my system, which is
perhaps why this coloration is so obvious. With analog, I tried
both (my DAC is balanced anyway) and found that I got a nice sound from
using only the input or the output transformer. Just a hint of
the sound from the transformer, which with some recordings was
nice. Both transformers (in and out) was too much of this
character and none was in the end the preferred setup. For non
critical sources (like my TV watching ) the unbalanced in is perfectly
fine.
I have not heard too many parallel SETs but what I heard was pretty
impressive. For example the New Audio Frontiers parallel SET 845
monoblocks are one of the very best amps I have heard. Also, the
Audio Note (kondo not UK) Kegon KSL is phenomenally good and is a
parallel SET also. Of course I have heard great SETs also.
I have heard great PP (Allen Wright's DPA300b being one of the best I
have heard). Yet I find the OTL sound to be less colored overall
and more dynamic (especially in the microdynamic department.)
"I cannot
really say more, but I have a PP Amp (sorta commercial) that sounds to
most that hear it a LOT like a really good SE Amp (and that from a high
feedback EL34 class AB push pull design!).
"
What is it? Just curious maybe I have heard it or something close to it.
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