Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site
In the Forum: Melquiades Amplifier
In the Thread: Valve Preamplifier for Macondo/DSET
Post Subject: TransparencyPosted by anthony on: 8/10/2020
 anthony wrote: |
I also have another SS pre just arrived with has been measurebated into existence with measured spec's difficult to confirm with the best measuring equipment getting about.
|
|
I've been listening to the new buffer with imd/thd/snr/blah blah blah all claimed to be state of the art. Huge PSRR and CMRR, gain up to 20dB, super low output impedance, able to source 50mA or thereabouts, and able to drive quite a capacitive and low input impedance load (300r claimed). The buffer has been configured for 12dB gain and plugged directly between my favourite dac and the DSET's...no analog volume control nor input selector in use.
It sounds nice...better than the previous SS preamp I have been using. Imaging is clearer, sound is neither lighter nor darker and the buffer is more enjoyable to listen with than the previous SS pre. More clarity, more definition. Volume matched with the 10y though, even with its input selector and analogue volume control vs a cleaner signal path with the buffer, the DHT is more moist, more three dimensional with its imaging, more flesh on things such as vocals, strings and noticeably the left hand of the piano. More emotive. The valves still seem to draw a more detailed, higher resolution picture but the gap is no longer an order of magnitude as it was before with the previous SS pre.
Perhaps, with a lesser source or lesser speakers, some people may prefer the buffer to the DHT pre because it does paint a less detailed picture, maybe a smoother picture in some circumstances with less capable loudspeakers, but Macondo is able to deliver the clarity and detail at significant listening volumes and with the buffer I feel as though I am missing out on a little bit of something the 10y is able to provide. Based on the excellent measurements and drive capabilities of the buffer, you could make the assumption that either the 10y is better at driving DSET or it would appear that the 10y is adding something not entirely inaudible, which is not unexpected. If it is adding something, it is not adding much but it is engaging and I like it right now.
To date, I've only listened with my favourite dac. The Phasure NOS1a/10y partnership is something I am enjoying. Perhaps at a later date I will not be loving the DHT pre with some other source/s and it would be nice to include something like this buffer into the preamp and be able to switch between SS and DHT gain stages. Something to think about.
Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site