What a Balance Preamplifier Should Be Like?

[sergeauckland]

I may be a dinosaur here, but I'm actually looking for a balanced in to balanced out pre-amp with 6 inputs including one RIAA input for both MC & MM, a tape loop, remote control and tone controls. It also needs to be 19" rack mounting, and ideally no more than 2U high.

I'm currently using an 8 input mixer but it's rather big! I feel a Winter Project coming on...

S.

 

[JeremyFife]

You have 3 analogue inputs; turntable (after a phono stage obviously) and CD or something like that which makes sense.
What's is difficult in many cases is being able to apply EQ/DSP to those sources. If you could add a decent ADC, either internally to your DAC or with a Digital Out then that would be interesting. Your DAC will have to be pretty good for people not to want an external DAC so even Digital Out as pass-through for the digital inputs would be worthwhile

 

[radix]

I'd put the XLR/RCA output switch on the back and make it hard to accidentally hit. As it is, my partner would likely hit it and not know why the system makes no sound. Then I'd have to put a piece of tape on it or stick a label on it.

Some switches a novice can use. E.g. an input that says "CD" or "tape" or "NET". But what does "output XLR" mean? Sure, I know. But no one else in the house does.

I have the same gripe about inputs that just say "RCA 1" or "XLR". That has no meaning unless you hooked up the system yourself or someone taped a cheat sheet to the unit.

Have someone else (randomly) setup the preamp with 3 sources (say TT, CD and NET). Then have another person enter the room and ask them to play the CD. See what happens. Especially if your output switch was in the wrong position.

 

[TonyJZX]

i have an AVR that has fully renamable inputs - this only has 2 rca and 1 x XLR so i think its hard to force labels on inputs... i like is it going to be CD? or DAC? or stream or...

that's overly fussy for what is a basic 3 input device

there's massive scope creep here... when you try to expand options so everyone is happy you're ending up with a more complex expensive unit that fewer and fewer people can afford

is Fosi a brand that can ask... $250? $300?

I'm against an XLR/RCA output switch... what's it for? if you must have it then make it 3 position... BOTH, XLR or RCA

but really, just delete it, also delete the dac and just concentrate on analog but I'm guessing the Chinese audience dont like it

 

[surroundman]

My 2 cents - add a SUB OUT that is controlled by the volume knob (in every product possible, not just this one). And then, consider removing coaxial and optical and add USB and Bluetooth instead. If you will, you can do a poll (or a kind of research of your own) regarding having optical + coaxial vs USB + Bluetooth; I'll be curious to see the results.

 

[LTig]

Question is whether the balanced type of amplifier is from input to output? Or is it just only balanced input converted to non-balanced amplifier and then the single ended output is converted to a balanced output. If the second is thought then the concept is worthless to me.

This makes no sense. The balanced input must be transformed to unbalanced at the first amplifier stage to get rid of the unwanted common mode signals (that's why balanced connections are better than unbalanced). Otherwise you amplify them and eventually send them to the power amp, hoping that the latter gets rid of them.

 

[LTig]

I may be a dinosaur here, but I'm actually looking for a balanced in to balanced out pre-amp with 6 inputs including one RIAA input for both MC & MM, a tape loop, remote control and tone controls. It also needs to be 19" rack mounting, and ideally no more than 2U high.

I'm currently using an 8 input mixer but it's rather big! I feel a Winter Project coming on...

Maybe one of the new digital rack mixers which are controlled solely by an app on a tablet PC?

 

[radix]

My 2 cents - add a SUB OUT that is controlled by the volume knob (in every product possible, not just this one). And then, consider removing coaxial and optical and add USB and Bluetooth instead. If you will, you can do a poll (or a kind of research of your own) regarding having optical + coaxial vs USB + Bluetooth; I'll be curious to see the results.

Yes! Sub out. And even better if there's an internal, somewhat adjustable crossover, even if it's just a 60-80-100 switch.

I spent a premium getting an Anthem STR preamp because it has DRC and crossover (and programmable input names . The DRC is not essential, but getting a high-pass on the main out is a big plus (most subs already have a low-pass, so a low-pass is not as necessary on the sub out).

 

[Fosi Audio]

yeah just have both outputs active all the time

i have to ask... why IEC? since we are talking low voltage why not a simple ext. psu?

also at this point everything gets harder...

we would like a basic remote... ie. vol. mute and input switch

while i would love it if it has an analog cutoff for sub out and mains, this is going to be hard

also maybe BT? I dont care for it but it sells units... and yes for me I dont want DACs but the market is the market

ALSO why do these units dont seem to have much in the way of a "company design language"? i think SMSL sort of has a design language

we know icons like McIntosh does. Why does this look so different to every other Fosi design?

It's a concept design only. The appearance hasn't been confirmed yet.

 

[JSmith]

Get rid of the DAC and limited digital inputs... make this an analogue preamp only. Most people running separates already have an external DAC and not many other devices have balanced out anyway.

What this needs is a remote for volume at least, possibly bass/treble controls & bypass of same and maybe a 12V trigger. I'd like to see this with the performance of the Pre90, but cheaper.


JSmith

 

[Fosi Audio]

Is tone control necessary for this balanced amplifier? Bass, mid, and treble adjustments?

 

[TonyJZX]

i dont like them but i understand many people do

if you cant have a tone defeat then at least make sure the 12 o'clock means FLAT

 

[Jeromeof]

Is tone control necessary for this balanced amplifier? Bass, mid, and treble adjustments?

I would say no, as I would rather have tone controls (or ideally a full PEQ) somewhere else on the audio path.

But I am curious as to why you are including a DAC with the optical / coax input here? Because unless you have a good DAC (which will add to the expense) it probably won't be used by customers who are interested in the quality that a Balanced PreAmp would offer. So, IMO keep the product super simple - i.e. this is just a balanced Preamp with RCA inputs also included or be prepared to add lots and lots of features (but increasing the cost).

 

[TonyJZX]

i'm in two minds about the dac

i dont want it... a lot of us are purists... why include a dac when you have balanced in? what's the xlr in for if its not for a good dac?

But I think there are combo dac bt high res chipsets out there that dont cost much

so if they were to add bt 24/192 usb and its like a $15-$20 parts ask then who cares

 

[JayGilb]

I may be a dinosaur here, but I'm actually looking for a balanced in to balanced out pre-amp with 6 inputs including one RIAA input for both MC & MM, a tape loop, remote control and tone controls. It also needs to be 19" rack mounting, and ideally no more than 2U high.

I'm currently using an 8 input mixer but it's rather big! I feel a Winter Project coming on...

S.

Another dinosaur here; This is what I use, 8 in 8 out balanced analog, 2 in 2 out aes/ebu. No phono input, but each input can be switched to a mic level, which you might be able to adapt.
A tape loop can be implemented via internal programming as well as tone controls and an external volume control as well. They are no longer produced, but available used for < $200 USD.

 

[LTig]

Is tone control necessary for this balanced amplifier? Bass, mid, and treble adjustments?

Yes, for quick correction of bad recordings, optimally with a Quad like tone balance control. Also a stereo width enhancer.

 

[Zek]

Quad like tone balance control.

What it means?

Also a stereo width enhancer.

What?

 

[Rednaxela]

What?

Ultracurve

Behringer Ultracurve DEQ2496 Lampizator

lampizator.eu

 

[Mnyb]

I have go at this, my list to santa :

Can we please have

* Room EQ (Dirac or similar)

* Loudness contour , variable possibly to tune against level ( like RME does it ).

* Subwoofer outputs , with crossover

* One more balanced analog input

* USB input

* ARC or EARC

* Tone controls or EQ for a quick fix adjusting for taste regarding recordings ( the room and speaker EQ are set and forget )

* Balance control

* Mono button

* Mute button

* Tape loop

(* Optionally a phono stage )

(* Optionally a built in streamer )

 

[Colonel7]

Serve what everyone is looking for and nobody wants to dare. Sub output with high pass filter for the speaker outputs, possibly with adjustable frequency. we all want to manage the subwoofer by splitting the frequencies, but nobody seems to care

Mandatory high pass variable frequency!