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From: emrath@uiucdcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Looking for a preamp... - (nf)
Message-ID: <2374@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Jul-83 20:25:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.2374
Posted: Fri Jul  8 20:25:14 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 12-Jul-83 18:47:20 EDT
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#R:yale-com:-171200:uiucdcs:22700027:000:1191
uiucdcs!emrath    Jul  8 18:12:00 1983

These days, I find it hard to imagine a preamp that doesn't sound clean.
I think looking for the quietest preamp you can find is a good thing.
I have a Phase Linear preamp that I really like, sounds fine. The push button
selector is a lot nicer than a rotary switch. Problems:
   1) DIP-sized relays are used for signal switching, but these occasionally
	get dirty contacts and I have to open 'em up and clean them.
	However, this approach virtually eliminates cross talk.
	Ideally, I would like solid state switches (FETs).
   2) The high level amp was kinda noisy, because the volume control came
	first. Since I don't listen at full volume, I modified the thing by
	adding 20dB of gain in front of the volume control and cutting the
	gain of the high level amp (in the feedback circuit) by the same.
	This causes reduced volume settings to cut back the noise from
	pre-vol-control amp stages. From what I've seen of late,
	manufacturers have finally started doing this kind
	of thing or putting the vol control in the feedback path.

Consider Nakamichi, from what I've seen of preamp specs, as well as cassette
deck specs, they know a thing or two about building very quiet voltage amps.