What to change?

[Primalsea]

Thinking outside the box a little I wonder if a buffer between you passive pre and the power amps would do something nice for you. The CD player will probably have a low output impedance, so can drive you pre, but the buffer would take the load of the power amps. Icon Audio make a nice one, but are probably others available.

[struth]

Used to use one once

[James the Albarry lover]

Thinking outside the box a little I wonder if a buffer between you passive pre and the power amps would do something nice for you. The CD player will probably have a low output impedance, so can drive you pre, but the buffer would take the load of the power amps. Icon Audio make a nice one, but are probably others available.

An interesting point of view, something I've never heard of before myself but I think I'm gonna go for the cd player first but I'll definitely be looking into them in the future. Thanks

[walpurgis]

A buffer can sometimes do interesting things. I have a couple of valve examples. I like them.

[James the Albarry lover]

I'd go different: a computer based source with eg. jRiver for convenience and digital volume control, and out into a mini DSP and on to the Albarrys. There should be change from your budget, and if you don't like the sound you have almost limitless possibilities to tweak to where you want it.

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I see the benefits of using a computer, streaming etc but it's just been a part of hifi that's never interested me, I like the physical side of hifi and owning CDs it's somewhat like owning a piece of art more so with vinyl

[Simon_LDT]

Thinking outside the box a little I wonder if a buffer between you passive pre and the power amps would do something nice for you. The CD player will probably have a low output impedance, so can drive you pre, but the buffer would take the load of the power amps. Icon Audio make a nice one, but are probably others available.

I second this. I did a quick search on the AP3 but couldn't find any specs on it. With the Albarrys being 5kohm input impedance, they could probably do with a buffer or maybe even an active pre. Unless the AP3 were specifically designed to partner the power amps originally?

[James the Albarry lover]

I second this. I did a quick search on the AP3 but couldn't find any specs on it. With the Albarrys being 5kohm input impedance, they could probably do with a buffer or maybe even an active pre. Unless the AP3 were specifically designed to partner the power amps originally?

Yes they were made for the m408s and it's bigger brother, the Ap3 has all silver wiring and if I'm not mistaken they use a Blue Alps volume control, specs are hard to find and I can't remember any of them

[Audio Al]

I like the physical side of hifi and owning CDs it's somewhat like owning a piece of art more so with vinyl

James , With a comment like this it sounds to me that you are vinyl man at heart , A Record player is the way forward , no need at first to spend big bucks , You can pick them up at very reasonable money , As for LP's I get mine from car boot sales at around £1 each some mint ones may be £2 , As you said the LP covers and physical side to this medium is ALL important to me , You actually get something whereas you get nothing for your money when streaming , When it time to sell up the vinyle system retains value , How can you sell on digital media

Vinyl systems are great fun and something you get involved with , tweaking to your hearts content , As said it dones NOT need to be exspencive

With your £1K budget you can get a cracking setup including a record cleaning machine

Think hard on this James , Shame you are in Ireland or you could come round here for the day and have a listen / play with my kit

All the best , Hope you get something sorted

[hifi_dave]

I second this. I did a quick search on the AP3 but couldn't find any specs on it. With the Albarrys being 5kohm input impedance, they could probably do with a buffer or maybe even an active pre. Unless the AP3 were specifically designed to partner the power amps originally?

Yes, the AP3 was designed to partner the M408 and later Albarry power-amps. A very simple but beautifully put together passive which works very well with the Albarry power-amps and is difficult to improve on without spending vast sums.