[tdangelo]

I was wondering if it would be worthwhile sound wise to bypass the 1st gain stage on my amps.  I have Supratek Burgundy tube mono amps - they have a switch to bypass the 1st gain stage when used with balanced cables.  My linestage(Aesthetix Calypso) has plenty enough gain.  I'd have to buy new balanced crossovers for my Vandersteen 5a's and balanced cables(to replace the RCA xovers and cables).  I know this is an open ended question but I'm just looking for opinions.  The Supratek amps use 6922's for the 1st gain stage.

Thanks 

Tony

[awe-d-o-file]

Too much gain can be bad. High noise floor and so on. If it's not too hard to do I would go for it. I also use a passive line stage as 99% of the time my CJ preamp was acting as an attenuator. Too  much preamp gain is no good too IMO.


                                                                   ET

[mcullinan]

Tony,
Id email Mick see what he has to say.. Hes a pretty level headed, all around good guy.
Mike

[PaulFolbrecht]

I was wondering if it would be worthwhile sound wise to bypass the 1st gain stage on my amps.  I have Supratek Burgundy tube mono amps - they have a switch to bypass the 1st gain stage when used with balanced cables.  My linestage(Aesthetix Calypso) has plenty enough gain.  I'd have to buy new balanced crossovers for my Vandersteen 5a's and balanced cables(to replace the RCA xovers and cables).  I know this is an open ended question but I'm just looking for opinions.  The Supratek amps use 6922's for the 1st gain stage.

If there's a switch can't you just try it and see if you like it?  Am I missing something? 

[tdangelo]

thanks for the suggestions.  I emailed Kevin Covi(co-designer with Mick from Supratek).

Paul - it is just a switch but the switch is for RCA or balanced selection.  The balanced selection bypasses the first gain stage on the amps - if I use that,  I have to get balanced cables and balanced external xover's for my Vandersteens.
Thanks
Tony

[tdangelo]

I sent Kevin Covi an email and he definitely recommended going balanced and bypassing the amps 1st gain stage.  I'll try it eventually

Tony

[OBF]

I don't know how much the crossover change would cost you, but man, if I had those amps and the Aesthetix pre (which I would love to try someday partly because of it's balanced design) I'd sure want to use them to their fullest.  Again, the crossover may be the main consideration, but I'd consider getting some well made but non exotic XLR cables just to see what you think before going further.  I wouldn't be surprised if even cheaper balanced cables sound better with your system than anything SE.

[JoshK]

Why the need for different crossovers?     I don't understand that.  Otherwise, I would highly recommend you do it. 

[tdangelo]

I don't know how much the crossover change would cost you, but man, if I had those amps and the Aesthetix pre (which I would love to try someday partly because of it's balanced design) I'd sure want to use them to their fullest.  Again, the crossover may be the main consideration, but I'd consider getting some well made but non exotic XLR cables just to see what you think before going further.  I wouldn't be surprised if even cheaper balanced cables sound better with your system than anything SE.

the balanced external Vandersteen 5a xovers are about $800.  Hopefully I can find some used one

Thanks
Tony

[tdangelo]

Why the need for different crossovers?     I don't understand that.  Otherwise, I would highly recommend you do it. 

to bypass the gain stage on the amps I need to use balanced IC's - my external xovers are RCA.

Tony

[zybar]

I don't know how much the crossover change would cost you, but man, if I had those amps and the Aesthetix pre (which I would love to try someday partly because of it's balanced design) I'd sure want to use them to their fullest.  Again, the crossover may be the main consideration, but I'd consider getting some well made but non exotic XLR cables just to see what you think before going further.  I wouldn't be surprised if even cheaper balanced cables sound better with your system than anything SE.

the balanced external Vandersteen 5a xovers are about $800.  Hopefully I can find some used one

Thanks
Tony

Tony,

Post an ad on Audiogon asking to trade with somebody.

I was going to do this when I bought my 5A's, but I found somebody through a friend to do the trade.

Geoge

[zybar]

Why the need for different crossovers?     I don't understand that.  Otherwise, I would highly recommend you do it. 

Because it is built for either rca or xlr input.

These are the external crossovers for the 5A's that are required since the 5A's have their own powered subs.

George

[tdangelo]

I don't know how much the crossover change would cost you, but man, if I had those amps and the Aesthetix pre (which I would love to try someday partly because of it's balanced design) I'd sure want to use them to their fullest.  Again, the crossover may be the main consideration, but I'd consider getting some well made but non exotic XLR cables just to see what you think before going further.  I wouldn't be surprised if even cheaper balanced cables sound better with your system than anything SE.

the balanced external Vandersteen 5a xovers are about $800.  Hopefully I can find some used one

Thanks
Tony

Tony,

Post an ad on Audiogon asking to trade with somebody.

I was going to do this when I bought my 5A's, but I found somebody through a friend to do the trade.

Geoge

Good idea

Thanks

[doug s.]

why not yust get some rca to xlr adapters?  quality neutrik adapters can be found at pro audio stores for ~$6-$8 each.  if you're really worried about any sonic degradation from these (which i think would be miniscule at most), then you could always spend the extra money on the xlr x-over later...  or borrow an xlr x-over to see if it's worth it vs the xlr-rca adapters...

doug s.

Why the need for different crossovers?     I don't understand that.  Otherwise, I would highly recommend you do it. 

to bypass the gain stage on the amps I need to use balanced IC's - my external xovers are RCA.

Tony

[tdangelo]

why not yust get some rca to xlr adapters?  quality neutrik adapters can be found at pro audio stores for ~$6-$8 each.  if you're really worried about any sonic degradation from these (which i think would be miniscule at most), then you could always spend the extra money on the xlr x-over later...  or borrow an xlr x-over to see if it's worth it vs the xlr-rca adapters...

doug s.

Unfortunately, Richard V. says the adapters will not work with these xovers.  That was my first thought.
Thanks
Tony

[JoshK]

Oh your external xo's are line level passive (ie between the preamp and amp?).