Looking for a solid state analog-only preamp. I like the Benchmark LA4 but would like to have two sets of balanced outputs.
I am more interested and intrigued by these preamps (I do understand that none of the three are in the same price category):
Bryston BP-17 (3)
Ayre KX-5 Twenty
Considerations:
-"The Rolex Factor." Buying a quartz watch might keep better time, but a Rolex is "nicer." This is part of the emotional purchase factor that I hope we try to address on ASR. Not that you can't buy luxury items or have fun, but that information and more facts can help with decisions.
Myths/assumptions:
-"Wide Bandwidth = MAGIC." In looking at the Stereophile measurements of the Ayre and Bryston, the Ayre seems flat from about DC-250khz at 600ohms. Can performance outside the audio bandwidth, affect performance inside the audio range? Or is this an invention of the industry to justify charging thousands more?
-"No Negative Feedback = MAGIC." Audible effects of not using feedback? Sorry I know I am bringing up topics that have been addressed elsewhere, just looking for summaries.
-"Euphonics!" - Deliberate or incidental even order harmonic distortion "sounds better." Maybe not as accurate, but in a double blind test, would people prefer the sound? (Now that I mention that, my brain is struggling to cope with the fact that we discuss preference at all. The context for preference must only be "sales" and the context for accuracy only measurement?)
-"Bits of resolution" - I do miss the days when it was .03 or .003 instead of "bits".... but here is the question. If my content/sources are 16bit, then does it even matter? Sorry, we're back to the difference between "is it better on paper/in measurement" vs. "can you hear the difference." Is there a % distortion in preamps that is agreed upon, below a certain figure, no longer matters?
Thoughts? Comments? What myths have I missed?
Thank you!
I am more interested and intrigued by these preamps (I do understand that none of the three are in the same price category):
Bryston BP-17 (3)
Ayre KX-5 Twenty
Considerations:
-"The Rolex Factor." Buying a quartz watch might keep better time, but a Rolex is "nicer." This is part of the emotional purchase factor that I hope we try to address on ASR. Not that you can't buy luxury items or have fun, but that information and more facts can help with decisions.
Myths/assumptions:
-"Wide Bandwidth = MAGIC." In looking at the Stereophile measurements of the Ayre and Bryston, the Ayre seems flat from about DC-250khz at 600ohms. Can performance outside the audio bandwidth, affect performance inside the audio range? Or is this an invention of the industry to justify charging thousands more?
-"No Negative Feedback = MAGIC." Audible effects of not using feedback? Sorry I know I am bringing up topics that have been addressed elsewhere, just looking for summaries.
-"Euphonics!" - Deliberate or incidental even order harmonic distortion "sounds better." Maybe not as accurate, but in a double blind test, would people prefer the sound? (Now that I mention that, my brain is struggling to cope with the fact that we discuss preference at all. The context for preference must only be "sales" and the context for accuracy only measurement?)
-"Bits of resolution" - I do miss the days when it was .03 or .003 instead of "bits".... but here is the question. If my content/sources are 16bit, then does it even matter? Sorry, we're back to the difference between "is it better on paper/in measurement" vs. "can you hear the difference." Is there a % distortion in preamps that is agreed upon, below a certain figure, no longer matters?
Thoughts? Comments? What myths have I missed?
Thank you!