An enlightening day! (steve toy's amps)

[Ali Tait]

Quite agree with Greg here.One thing I would add is that the WD pre's are in effect minature triode amps and use output transformers.This design allows them to sidestep the most common issue of matching pre to power causing poor sound-that of impedance.The WD pre will work really well with just about anything.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

funnily enough i was looking at the wd's just prior to investigating the starfish

[Steve Toy]

No passive pre will ever come close to the TD grounded grid. In fact not many preamps at all anywhere come close. Certainly, if you want drive, dynamics a dive-in-there soundstage as well as subtlety and transparency it just has to be active.

I'd take a solid state pre over a passive and Anthony makes rather fine solid state preamps too...

[DSJR]

As far as I can see, the Starfish is what the 552/252 should be, although the bandwidth limiting is optional.. Still a 1960's early transistor design with single rail 24V supply though, albeit more of them than in a lower grade naim preamp..

I looked at the WD preamp too, but the cost was so much more than the old Croft I ended up with I abandoned the idea. Apparently, there's loads of race tuning to be done on the WD too.

Good luck, and I'm very pleased for you that you've found an amp to suit the PMC's, as transmission lines can be difficult to control properly...

[Marco]

No passive pre will ever come close to the TD grounded grid. In fact not many preamps at all anywhere come close. Certainly, if you want drive, dynamics a dive-in-there soundstage as well as subtlety and transparency it just has to be active.

True.

I fully understand why Greg recommended building a passive pre, from a D.I.Y point of view to get Hamish building, but quite simply, in comparison to an active preamp of the quality of your TD one, sonically, I suspect that it's no contest.

In fact, I've yet to hear any passive preamp that I could live with, and I've heard some good ones (both D.I.Y and commercial) full of top components. It's a fundamental design issue. Passive preamps, of any description, I suspect are just not up to what I get from the Croft or what you get from your TD preamp.

Marco.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

it would be interesting to see the effect of a starfish, once i have the s100 and starfish here steve unless the s100 is very very good i can see my going for your amp! jon is happy for me to return the s100 to him, would you be happy to make a second visit for a comparison with the avondale with starfish?

as a side note any ferther visits petrol i am happy to cover...

[Mike]

Certainly, if you want drive, dynamics a dive-in-there soundstage as well as subtlety and transparency it just has to be active.

Then why did he Naim not work so well?

Not all active pre amps are created equal!... It could well be that in that particular instance a passive could well have been better!

I think Greg's suggestion was as much a 'get you going' solution as much as a good intro to DIY. Hamish could add an active pre at a later date.

[Cotlake]

Yep, that was my point. I don't disagree with the benefit of an active pre, but I know what it's like when you're cash strapped and can't afford all you would like. If Hamish is in this position but can afford Steve's power amp, it'll keep his system working until he can afford a powered pre and also present a listenable sound in the meantime.

Regards,

Greg

[Marco]

Seems like sounds advice to me

Marco.

[Cotlake]

. Apparently, there's loads of race tuning to be done on the WD too.

Hi Dave,

Sorry, I don't understand this and certainly, what does 'race tuning' mean? I'd appreciate an explaination. Thanks.

Regards,

Greg