[guest1632]

Hi all,

Saw the specs for the Candella preamp, On the output impedance, 10K (10,000) ohms, that's kinda high for a preamp isn't it? I am using a SS amp, which requires a low output impedance.

Ray

[guest1632]

Hi all,

Was concerned about the output of the
Candella preamp. 10K or 10,000 ohms. seems a pretty high impedance.

Ray

[AlexG]

Ray,

Was concerned about the output of the
Candella preamp. 10K or 10,000 ohms. seems a pretty high impedance.

You most likely saw the original flyer on the Candela preamp that did mention 10K in error!. The correct output impedance is 2K ohms. It has no problems driving solid state (or tubes) amps.

Thank you,

Alex

[guest1632]

Hi alex,

2K Ohms? still to hight for the amp I am using. Has to be 800 ohms or under.

Ray

[undertow]

2 k ohm seems VERY high to drive most amps of 15 k - 20 k or below it would seem.. and in my experience will sound a bit thin and slightly anylitical, the bass Damping will make it sound constipated. I originally ran a preamp with a 1.2 k output into Stratos extreme mono's, it worked, but not optimally. All my other amps have been easily 30 k ohm or higher input impedance and far better results.. The odysseys, a couple of the McCormack amps etc.. That run the 10 k input is a bit hard to match up with most Tube preamps, you can always go with Conrad Johnsons that are like only 50 ohm output.. Or Carys in most cases seem pretty low. I guess synergy is the key, but impedance would have been the last thing I would have ever tried to spec out until I learned my lesson.

[lazydays]

2 k ohm seems VERY high to drive most amps of 15 k - 20 k or below it would seem.. and in my experience will sound a bit thin and slightly anylitical, the bass Damping will make it sound constipated. I originally ran a preamp with a 1.2 k output into Stratos extreme mono's, it worked, but not optimally. All my other amps have been easily 30 k ohm or higher input impedance and far better results.. The odysseys, a couple of the McCormack amps etc.. That run the 10 k input is a bit hard to match up with most Tube preamps, you can always go with Conrad Johnsons that are like only 50 ohm output.. Or Carys in most cases seem pretty low. I guess synergy is the key, but impedance would have been the last thing I would have ever tried to spec out until I learned my lesson.

I use a Candella with mono SE's without the slightest problem. I've had a Quicksilver, ASL 2004, Conrad Johnson, B&K, Sonograph driving my monos without a hitch. The tubed preamps were better of course. The CJ was a little thin on sound compaired to the Candella, but still very liquid. The Quicksilver sounded closest to the Candella, but lacked the speed and presence and was a little grainy compaired to the Candella. The ASL has had the cap upgrade and isn't all that bad sounding, but nowhere close to the CJ or Candella. The others are nothing more than door stops.
gary

[undertow]

What is the acutal ratio? I  Thought that it should be at least 10 to 1.. Meaning a Amp input of 10 K should have at most a preamp of 1k? Who really knows the answer to this, because I have seen it debated many times, and seems to not have any real solution?

So than realistically I don't know of any other solid state amps lower than 10 k input, that’s really pretty low, and being we are talking now an extremely high output impedance preamp in this audio world drives it with no issue, what can't the Candella drive then? I mean it would seem that all the theorys of get the lowest output impedance preamp are bunk then, by the way I don't know of many preamps at all that are that high of an output impedance either that are not normally used with Tube amps of 40 k or higher input.

By the way I never owned or have heard an Odyssey Preamp so I am not saying its not a good piece or sounds great with their gear, just curious… Seems to go against all audio logic in a way.

[rotarius]

Odyssey Audio needs to publish the input impedance spec of their amps.  From what I found, the amps are 10Kohm and the Candella output impedance is 2Kohm.  In my experience, this is a mismatch.  Sure, you may get decent sound but the Candella should be paired with an amp with 50 Kohm or better input Z for best results.

[undertow]

rotarius .. In audio world thats exactly my point, thats why I am a bit confused as well, and not so sure anybody is getting the full performance benefits.

[lazydays]

rotarius .. In audio world thats exactly my point, thats why I am a bit confused as well, and not so sure anybody is getting the full performance benefits.

where are you located? I'd be glade to let you listen to my system anytime you want, and then go up the street and listen to Krells and some others. One thing I have kinda noticed about the Odyssey amps is that they really respond well to high impedence curves on speakers. My last pair were really made for tube amps, and just cruised along driving them. My current speakers have about 200 hours on them, and are somewhat more efficent. Have really started to come into their own. Right now I think the system is limited due to the phono stage and cartridge, and this is the next upgrade path for me.
gary