do you use pre-amp and amp with two different brands?

michaelv · « **on:** 4 Dec 2005, 06:01 am »

Hi,
i was wondering whether anyone mix your gears such as pre-amp and amp in different brands?

thanks.

warnerwh · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 06:56 am »

I've never had the same brand pre and power amps at the same time. There's absolutely no reason you shouldn't.

At present I use a Krell KRC-3 preamp and an Innersound ESL power amp. I'd bet the Krell is a better preamp than the Innersound preamp. Innersound gear though is made and I suspect designed by Coda who used to work for Nelson Pass at Threshold corporation. Coda does make some outstanding preamps I bet though but they rarely come up for sale on the used market.

Through my Vmps RM 40 speakers the sound is extremely smooth and accurate. Tubelike is how I'd describe the sound only with all the slam, neutrality and quietness of SS gear.

I'd guess if you took a poll you'd find a majority of people use a pre and power amp of different manufacturers.

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 12:36 pm »

Pre: First Sound Paramount
Amp: Scott Nixon Op Chip monos

Pre: Final Laboratories Music 5
Amp: Final Laboratories Music 6, McCormack DNA-225

Mixing is interesting and gives very very unexpected results.

GHM · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 01:03 pm »

Bemopti123,

When you gonna let me borrow that First Sound Paramount ? Ah..I know I know..when hell freezes over right!

flintstone · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 01:08 pm »

I mix

My preamp of choice is a tubed Audioprism Mantissa...amps are Krell Ksa-250 or Rogue Audio M-120 Magnums. No real reason why I use different brands other than each of these components excell at things I find important.

Dave

BobM · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 02:06 pm »

Wow - another Mantissa owner! Same here with a near-Rev A McCormack DNA .5 amp.

Enjoy,
Bob

Khorn · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 04:38 pm »

I've only had two systems with matching amps and preamps. The first was a McIntosh Pro JBL Bi-amped active/passive tri x-over system and the second was the first Bryston 1b/4B combo. Ever since then it's always been a mix.

maxwalrath · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 05:23 pm »

Pre: EE Minimax w/upgrades

Amp: Red Wine dual-mono Clari-T w/upgrades
-and-
AudioSector Patek

avahifi · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 06:27 pm »

All other things being equal, there is no good reason to not try "mixing and matching" audio components.

Things to consider though.

A vacuum tube preamp has more limited drive current and a higher output impedance than a similar hybird or solid state preamp. Thus you should be aware of the input impedance of the power amplifier and the distributed cable capacitance of the interconnects, and make sure you are not creating a difficult load for the preamp to drive.

Also, be aware of differing sensitivites of different brands, there is no good industry standard that is followed. If you have an amplifier that has a high input sensitivity, then you will loose useful range of your preamp volume control and have a poorer signal to noise ratio.

Also be aware that all other things being equal, louder sounds better. So if you substitute a new component that has a bit higher gain, it will tend to "sound better" at first listen, even if it really is not better.

Finally be really careful in selecting an amp and or preamp for a high sensitivity horn loaded loudspeaker. The speaker causes the system to have a much poorer signal to noise ratio, you need to select really quiet components ahead of it or the noise level will disturb you.

Otherwise, have fun. Nobody has got it perfect so far.

Frank Van Alstine

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 06:29 pm »

My first separates system, back when stereo or quad were the only options, had matching Yamaha components, a C-2 preamp and an M-2 power amp. But that was the last time my pre and power amps matched. I've had a Sherbourn 5/1500A power amp for about 4 years, but I've had 3 different preamps and an HT receiver driving it. The reciever is a Yamaha that I still use as a processor for HT. For 2 channel preamps I've had an ASL AQ2004, a Bryston 0.5B and a Rotel RC-1070, which is currently in the system.

michaelv · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Dec 2005, 10:14 pm »

Thanks for all replies.

Currently i have Rotel pre-amp RC-1070 and Rotel amp RB-1080. I intend to replace rotel rc-1070 by either Musical Fidelity A3.5 or A5 , or Plinius. What do you suggest based on your experience ?

thanks.

flintstone · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Dec 2005, 01:16 pm »

Bob M said:

"Wow - another Mantissa owner! Same here with a near-Rev A McCormack DNA .5 amp. "

Hi Bob, we've talked before!....as a matter of fact we exchanged e-mails a couple of years ago and you were a big help to me. This was when I was buying the Mantissa

We know something very few people know...thanks to you!

Dave

doodlebug · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 Dec 2005, 02:15 am »

as I have the same brand of gear, McIntosh, but the preamp is relatively new being less than 3 years old while the power amps I'm using, McIntosh MC-225s, are about 40 years old now.

I'd suggest that even with differences in brand, the designs inside determine what makes up the ability of a preamp and a power amp to interact well.

All other things being equal, there are few 'brands' out there today where I could do the same thing with.

Just another permutation/answer to the question posed.

Cheers,

David