MSB Reference analog preamp questions

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Alectiong

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Jul 31, 2015
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Hello everyone, happy new year.
To users of the optional analog preamp in the Reference, how does it compare with your external preamp? I have been skeptical about a preamp that comes with a player/DAC, probably influenced by my old Wadia days. it sounded quite detailed, but analytical and thin. Bypassing it for an external preamp made a whole lot positive difference. I admit I dont know how MSB does its preamp.
Regards
 
Alectiong said:
Hello everyone, happy new year.
To users of the optional analog preamp in the Reference, how does it compare with your external preamp? I have been skeptical about a preamp that comes with a player/DAC, probably influenced by my old Wadia days. it sounded quite detailed, but analytical and thin. Bypassing it for an external preamp made a whole lot positive difference. I admit I dont know how MSB does its preamp.
Regards
Click to expand...

I have the same preamp module in my Select DAC as what’s available in the Reference DAC. This preamp module outperformed my Audio Research Reference 10 preamp in every way in my system, so I ended up selling the Reference 10. Transparency, dynamics, weight and a full bodied and natural sounding midrange is what I’ve experienced. I’ve never once regretted selling REF10 and using this preamp module in its place.

Ken
 
Thanks Ken for sharing. Intrigued how MSB can do so well with its preamp module vs a standalone full fletched one. Do you play phono and if so, is it also via the MSB preamp?
 
one significant reason that the MSB Select II passive preamp does so well is the lack of analog output circuit in the dac itself; the dac develops enough drive to eliminate that step. so you are not stacking one analog section on top of another.

beyond that i suppose it's just an execution issue and the overall quality and low noise approach of MSB wins the day.

personally in my system i have directly compared the passive preamp in the MSB to my $40k darTZeel 18NS preamp. and i slightly prefer my dart preamp, but could easily live with the MSB with no regrets. the dart pre is a formidable product and a standard for active preamp performance (Fremer's long term reference).

if you are digital only then there should be no hesitation. use the MSB passive pre. i'm not; i have 4 turntables and 3 high level reel to reel tape decks.
 
Mike Lavigne said:
one significant reason that the MSB Select II passive preamp does so well is the lack of analog output circuit in the dac itself; the dac develops enough drive to eliminate that step. so you are not stacking one analog section on top of another.

beyond that i suppose it's just an execution issue and the overall quality and low noise approach of MSB wins the day.

personally in my system i have directly compared the passive preamp in the MSB to my $40k darTZeel 18NS preamp. and i slightly prefer my dart preamp, but could easily live with the MSB with no regrets. the dart pre is a formidable product and a standard for active preamp performance (Fremer's long term reference).

if you are digital only then there should be no hesitation. use the MSB passive pre. i'm not; i have 4 turntables and 3 high level reel to reel tape decks.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike for insights. phono is still important to me. I don’t have so many analog sources as you. Just one turntable. It is still my reference. Just wondering if I can simplify my system if I do go MSB and can do away with my active preamp. Probably won’t know till I do a side by side comparison.
 
Alectiong said:
Thanks Mike for insights. phono is still important to me. I don’t have so many analog sources as you. Just one turntable. It is still my reference. Just wondering if I can simplify my system if I do go MSB and can do away with my active preamp. Probably won’t know till I do a side by side comparison.
Click to expand...

if i were re-booting today, i would seriously consider plugging a separate phono into the MSB Select II and using it as a preamp. it's designed to be used that way. it depends on the total balance of what i was doing. and i'd need to choose a phono pre that worked correctly in that context. basically viewing your system as MSB dac centric......and getting your vinyl to be complimentary. i think a very valid approach to take and a very elegant simple direction to go.
 
Mike Lavigne said:
if i were re-booting today, i would seriously consider plugging a separate phono into the MSB Select II and using it as a preamp. it's designed to be used that way. it depends on the total balance of what i was doing. and i'd need to choose a phono pre that worked correctly in that context. basically viewing your system as MSB dac centric......and getting your vinyl to be complimentary. i think a very valid approach to take and a very elegant simple direction to go.
Click to expand...

Mike, I guess you are talking about plugging an external phonostage into the MSB, instead of via an active preamp into the MSB? This is the option I am hoping for. My previous experience of using a preamp module of a DAC was not positive. Hence my post asking for feedback on the MSB. Regards.
 
I preferred my Music First to the MSB Ref preamp still, although the Ref was much better than the volume control in my Analog or Premier dacs. I've heard the impedance implementation in the Select is better and eliminates the need completely for a preamp.
 
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