The value of a pre amp?

[eljr]

How does one measure the value of a pre amp?
Isn't it just a switching box?
What quantitative things can one compare?
How do you match one with your power amp?

 

[Adam]

Excellent questions, and I hope to read the responses from those here that actually know.

One thing that I can say is that you'll want to make sure that the "switch box" part of it has all of the switching that you want now or expect to want in the near future.

I don't think that you need to worry about matching one to your amp, outside of having the connections that you want to use (balanced or unbalanced).

 

[OttoMatic]

Well, in general, they can have different sound qualities. Tube preamps have the tube sound, and solid state preamps may have a clinical or warm quality, depending on the design and implementation. These differences can be very subtle, and they may not actually be worth that much. I suppose that a "perfect" preamp will impart none of its own sound to the end result, but that's rarely the case; it is manipulating the signal in a variety of ways, after all.

Some preamps may have a phono input, and some may not.

Preamps with digital inputs will have DACs. The DAC used, as well as the implentation of surrounding electronics can again generate a different sound.

If you are talking about home theater preamps, then there are myriad features that can be considered -- does it support all audio formats, does it support audio via HDMI, how does Zone 2 work, is bass management implemented the way that it should be, do you like the remote? Those are just a few off the top of my head.

Unless you are working with esoteric tube gear, I don't think there's any need to match your preamp and amp (I don't have much personal experience with tube gear, but I understand it can sometimes have impedance matching funkyness). As long as you like the sound and feature set, you should be good to go.

Anyway, I'm sure there are more things to consider, but that's a start.

 

[eljr]

Thanks for the replies but I am looking a little more in depth.
IE
What makes a $4,000 solid state Mac pre-amp better than a $800 Nad? (both 2 channel)
Cosmetics aside what is the benefit received for the extra $3,200?
Are there numbers to support the benefits?
Speakers and power amps you can generally here the differences and are generally supported by numbers. Pre-Amps?

 

[avaserfi]

Thanks for the replies but I am looking a little more in depth.
IE
What makes a $4,000 solid state Mac pre-amp better than a $800 Nad?
Cosmetics aside what is the benefit received for the extra $3,200?
Are there numbers to support the benefits?
Speakers and power amps you can generally here the differences and are generally supported by numbers. Pre-Amps?

The differences between those situations vary. With Mac you are partly paying for their name and looks, but at the same time they have amazing build quality. As previously mentioned some have much higher quality components, dac, resistors, some cases video chips, etc...Connectivity can be another difference depending on the type you are looking at.

There is always a point of diminishing returns and you have to ask yourself how much you are willing to spend.

 

[fmw]

A preamp shouldn't sound like anything. It should take the input and amplify it enough to drive the power amp to its capacity and provide volume controls and switching and whatever other control the designer feels is important or saleable. It should do this without audible distortion and with a virtually flat frequency response curve. It should be completely transparent sonically. If it isn't, it is designed incompetently. People who hear sonic differences between competently designed and made preamps are probably hearing placebo effect, not real sonic differences.

The difference between the two preamps you mention should be brand. Macintosh has developed a cache over the years that allows it to get more for its products than comparable manufacturers get. I trust both of the units you mention are competently designed and made. You shouldn't hear them at all. Judge them by their connectivity and control options or by their cosmetics and sex appeal if that is important.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thanks for the replies but I am looking a little more in depth.
IE
What makes a $4,000 solid state Mac pre-amp better than a $800 Nad? (both 2 channel)
Cosmetics aside what is the benefit received for the extra $3,200?
Are there numbers to support the benefits?
Speakers and power amps you can generally here the differences and are generally supported by numbers. Pre-Amps?

Hard to separate or take cosmetics out of the equation as that is part of the cost and in many cases, may be a lot of the cost.

As was mentioned, the name demands a premium.

If they both have the same features, do the same, in another word, you don't have audio processing in one and not the other that will add to the cost, their design specs are equivalent, then your guess is as good as mine why one demand a higher $$$. One reason is the perception of that higher $$ brings to the marketing table.
Other than that, well designed preamps are transparent, period, end of story. After that, perception can lead you to uncharted territory

Your assumptions about amps may not be correct, be careful. Another area of perception going wild.

ps, If you have low output impedance on the pre and high input on the amp, nothing more to match

 

[eljr]

Great replies!
Thanks!