Hi!
TL;DR
any decent passive preamps with remote?
Since yesterday, I’ve replaced my old Audiolab 8200a with the Aiyima A07 MAX.
Current Setup:
Quick side note on Class D amps: I'm not new to them. I owned the first iconic T-Amp back in 2009, and then a Dayton Audio DTA-100a a few years later. The Aiyima is the first recent Class D amp I've tried, and I’m genuinely impressed. I can’t really compare it to those older Class Ds I had (but one thing is certain: unlike my old Class D amps, which were considered "toys" that sounded surprisingly good, this one has the fullness of a "grown-up" amplifier), but I can compare it to the Audiolab: the Aiyima is completely transparent, in the best way possible. You forget the system is even there; it doesn’t add anything extra, unlike the Audiolab, which had a reputation for a "cold" sound with a pronounced punch. That distinct sound can get tiresome and distracting over time. With the Aiyima, I only found myself focused on the music itself. I don't think I could hope for a better result in the hifi realm!
Now, back to the point: the Audiolab had a huge advantage with its ability to handle multiple inputs and be controlled with a remote. I’d like to be able to do the same with this new setup. Any recommendations? Do you know of a good passive preamp? Preferably not too expensive!
Any other advice or tips on my current setup are very welcome!
Thank you very much.
TL;DR
any decent passive preamps with remote?
Since yesterday, I’ve replaced my old Audiolab 8200a with the Aiyima A07 MAX.
Current Setup:
- Source: Digital music. Raspberry Pi 4 running Moode Audio OS, with a collection of lossless (FLAC) files served via NFS share from a home server over gigabit ethernet.
- DAC: Objective DAC (ODAC) - RCA Version by NwAvGuy. Bought in 2013, still working great.
- Amplifier: Until yesterday, Audiolab 8200a; now Aiyima A07 MAX.
- Speakers: A pair of vintage Dahlquist DQ-18 (200W RMS per channel at 4 ohms, 91dB efficiency at 1 watt, 1 meter).
Quick side note on Class D amps: I'm not new to them. I owned the first iconic T-Amp back in 2009, and then a Dayton Audio DTA-100a a few years later. The Aiyima is the first recent Class D amp I've tried, and I’m genuinely impressed. I can’t really compare it to those older Class Ds I had (but one thing is certain: unlike my old Class D amps, which were considered "toys" that sounded surprisingly good, this one has the fullness of a "grown-up" amplifier), but I can compare it to the Audiolab: the Aiyima is completely transparent, in the best way possible. You forget the system is even there; it doesn’t add anything extra, unlike the Audiolab, which had a reputation for a "cold" sound with a pronounced punch. That distinct sound can get tiresome and distracting over time. With the Aiyima, I only found myself focused on the music itself. I don't think I could hope for a better result in the hifi realm!
Now, back to the point: the Audiolab had a huge advantage with its ability to handle multiple inputs and be controlled with a remote. I’d like to be able to do the same with this new setup. Any recommendations? Do you know of a good passive preamp? Preferably not too expensive!
Any other advice or tips on my current setup are very welcome!
Thank you very much.
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