Connecting a preamp to another preamp at unity gain

[dlovesmusic]

Hello everyone, I am planning to try this but would like to know if there’s any potential issue with it.

I have a sim audio preamp that has a designated rca input as ht-bypass, so it’s basically at unity gain when you switch to that input.

I am thinking of connecting my Freya + rca output to the sim audio preamp ht-bypass input so I can use the Freya + in tube mode and pass the analog signal through the sim audio preamp to my power amp, rather than using a Nobsound xlr switch box.

Do anyone see any potential issue with that? I mean, that bypass feature is meant for connecting an AVR preamp out so it’s really no different you connect another preamp to it… am I missing anything here?

Cheers

 

[Chrispy]

Sounds convoluted and probably too complicated to be of any benefit to my way of thinking....but good luck!

 

[dlovesmusic]

Sounds convoluted and probably too complicated to be of any benefit to my way of thinking....but good luck!

Thanks. I mean I could also simply use one of those xlr switch box and just switch between the sim audio preamp or the Freya preamp to connect to the power amp. But I am not sure if I see any real benefit to that approach?

 

[Doodski]

I don't see an issue with that as long as you make sure you don't induce a clipped signal from the first preamp to the second preamp.

 

[Chrispy]

Thanks. I mean I could also simply use one of those xlr switch box and just switch between the sim audio preamp or the Freya preamp to connect to the power amp. But I am not sure if I see any real benefit to that approach?

I see ht bypass and my mind becomes numb....just so much bullshit there.

 

[dlovesmusic]

I see ht bypass and my mind becomes numb....just so much bullshit there.

you can do that with the Freya + too, simply set to passive preamp mode and crank the volume to max, that’s really what it is - unity gain

 

[Chrispy]

you can do that with the Freya + too, simply set to passive preamp mode and crank the volume to max, that’s really what it is - unity gain

Why bother in the first place, tho?

 

[dlovesmusic]

Why bother in the first place, tho?

I have been using a Freya + for the past three years, while the tube mode is fun, I like the transparency of the passive preamp mode. But at the passive mode, I am finding myself needing a bit more gain as I constantly having to almost max out at the volume to achieve my listening level.
Came across a pretty decent deal on a used sim audio preamp which is pretty neutral and transparent but provides the gain I need so I jumped on the deal but would still like to once in a while enjoy the tube mode of the Freya +…

 

[Chrispy]

I have been using a Freya + for the past three years, while the tube mode is fun, I like the transparency of the passive preamp mode. But at the passive mode, I am finding myself needing a bit more gain as I constantly having to almost max out at the volume to achieve my listening level.
Came across a pretty decent deal on a used sim audio preamp which is pretty neutral and transparent but provides the gain I need so I jumped on the deal but would still like to once in a while enjoy the tube mode of the Freya +…

Still seems convoluted and based on weird ideas.

 

[dlovesmusic]

Still seems convoluted and based on weird ideas.

I love options, tubes and solid states. I do respect not everyone appreciate that

 

[Chrispy]

I love options, tubes and solid states. I do respect not everyone appreciate that

Good luck with that. Listen more to gear than content ?

 

[Doodski]

@dlovesmusic are you using a DAC?

 

[dlovesmusic]

Good luck with that. Listen more to gear than content ?

Flexibility and option is what I would like to have in my system setup. Sure, I can enjoy the same song either with some tube coloration or without

 

[dlovesmusic]

@dlovesmusic are you using a DAC?

Yes I am.

Cheers

 

[Doodski]

Yes I am.

Cheers

Are you using a Mac or a Windows PC with parametric equalization feeding the DAC?

 

[dlovesmusic]

Are you using a Mac or a Windows PC with parametric equalization feeding the DAC?

Yes I have audiolense convolution filters for full frequency correction in windows pc fed to the dac

 

[dlovesmusic]

Btw, I am now testing the arrangement with some Foo Fighters tracks from qobuz, quite delighted there does not appear to have any sonic differences compared to just connecting from the Freya + directly to my power amp.

Cheers

 

[MaxwellsEq]

But at the passive mode, I am finding myself needing a bit more gain as I constantly having to almost max out at the volume to achieve my listening level

That's not necessarily a bad thing. In passive mode, you are only attenuating, so even setting the control completely to the right is not causing any problems. You say you aren't completely turning it up but "almost max out", which is fine.

Daisy-chaining gain and buffer stages can lead to more noise.

 

[dlovesmusic]

That's not necessarily a bad thing. In passive mode, you are only attenuating, so even setting the control completely to the right is not causing any problems. You say you aren't completely turning it up but "almost max out", which is fine.

Daisy-chaining gain and buffer stages can lead to more noise.

Agree that maxing out the volume in passive mode probably not a bad thing. Often times I found myself simply cranked it the max volume and just use the playback app to control digital volume since it’s pretty close to max out anyway. but it’s a bit inconvenient having to use my phone to control rather than using a remote.

I suppose there shouldn’t be daisy chaining of gain tho since this is really no different than people using the ht-bypass function to by pass the preamp and use say a AVR to control volume?

 

[goat76]

Hello everyone, I am planning to try this but would like to know if there’s any potential issue with it.

I have a sim audio preamp that has a designated rca input as ht-bypass, so it’s basically at unity gain when you switch to that input.

I am thinking of connecting my Freya + rca output to the sim audio preamp ht-bypass input so I can use the Freya + in tube mode and pass the analog signal through the sim audio preamp to my power amp, rather than using a Nobsound xlr switch box.

Do anyone see any potential issue with that? I mean, that bypass feature is meant for connecting an AVR preamp out so it’s really no different you connect another preamp to it… am I missing anything here?

Cheers

I have my system set up in a similar way as you intend to do.

The main 2-channel music listening rig is a Linn Akurate DSM (which is a streamer and a stereo pre-amplifier) connected to a power amplifier driving the left and right main speakers. As my system is also a multi-channel system, I run the main speakers pre-out in the Marantz receiver through the Akurate DSM in pass-through mode. So when watching movies, it's the pre-amp/volume control in the Marantz that is used, and when listening to streamed music it’s the Linn’s internal volume control that is used.

There’s never any “daisy chain” of pre-amps/volume controls going on, and it works great to combine the two audio chains in the same system.