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Thread: Passive Pre Amp for HLLY T-Amp?

  1. #1
    Join Date: Dec 2008

    Location: Kuala Lumpur

    Posts: 110
    I'm Abe.

    Default Passive Pre Amp for HLLY T-Amp?

    I remembered coming across upon discussions on HLLY's T-Amp sometimes ago here and can't help not to grab one myself. Just recently my new amp had passed the 100hrs or so of burning in, and I have to say that the HLLY T-AMP 20 (TA2020) simply sounds gorgeous. Blows me socks off !

    Now I'm thinking of hooking up a Pre Amp to the HLLY, and preserves my sanity by not getting off the seat, suss the interconnects out etc everytime I'm changing the input source.

    Can I use the Pre Amp section of my Creek 4330 integrated with the HLLY?
    I will put the HLLY's volume to the Max and use the remote on the Creek to control the overall loudness.

    The 4330 utilises a 'Passive' kind of pre amp stage, hopefully it would not cause any detrimental effect on SQ when connected to a separate Power Amp.

    Is there any good sounding (VFM) Passive Pre Amp out there for me to keep my radar on...

  2. #2
    Join Date: Mar 2009

    Location: Elland

    Posts: 6,922
    I'm David.

    Default

    there seems to be some merit in not putting the volume to full on the hlly... my hlly90 is set to about 1 oclock, that seems to yield the best results with the caiman as a pre to it... of course with the hlly20 you have less power to play with, but i would start at 1 and see how much more power you need.
    using an active pre might give more to the sound too... i was using a passive pre and a separate dac for a little while, but with the caiman it sounded better...

    (im just using the volume control on my pc with it at the mo... that doesnt sound as good either ... but it might be the crap dac im using ...)
    CS Port TAT2 - Benz LPS - Funkfirm Houdini - DS Audio Vinyl Ionizer - CS Port C3EQ - Kondo G70 - Kondo Gakuoh II - Maxonic TW1100 MKII - Isol-8 SubStation Integra

  3. #3
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Galashiels

    Posts: 13,695
    I'm inthescottishmafia.

    Default

    Any reason for a passive in particular?

  4. #4
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by aBe View Post
    I remembered coming across upon discussions on HLLY's T-Amp sometimes ago here and can't help not to grab one myself. Just recently my new amp had passed the 100hrs or so of burning in, and I have to say that the HLLY T-AMP 20 (TA2020) simply sounds gorgeous. Blows me socks off !

    Now I'm thinking of hooking up a Pre Amp to the HLLY, and preserves my sanity by not getting off the seat, suss the interconnects out etc everytime I'm changing the input source.

    Can I use the Pre Amp section of my Creek 4330 integrated with the HLLY?
    I will put the HLLY's volume to the Max and use the remote on the Creek to control the overall loudness.

    The 4330 utilises a 'Passive' kind of pre amp stage, hopefully it would not cause any detrimental effect on SQ when connected to a separate Power Amp.

    Is there any good sounding (VFM) Passive Pre Amp out there for me to keep my radar on...
    Hi mate,

    Just a quick one..... Is your first name Abeziel? If so, could you please add it to your profile signature?

    Cheers!

    Marco.
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  5. #5
    Join Date: Dec 2008

    Location: Kuala Lumpur

    Posts: 110
    I'm Abe.

    Default

    Hamish,
    I already went through a different route.
    Cranked the volume on the Creek to the max and controls loudness on the Hlly. By doing this, I hope that I have effectively presented a full pass through path for input signals going into the Hlly. In my case, I'm getting a better result than the other way round.

    I've also tried them directly with the Caiman, and it sounds a wee bit better indeed. But then I still need to move my lazy bum to change cables for the Turntable.

    Ali,
    No specific reason for going passive. Just trying to be as minimalist as possible to maintain signal purity. I could be wrong tho'

    Marco,
    Yeah..Abeziel is the name.
    Done. Siggy already added.
    -abe-

  6. #6
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Galashiels

    Posts: 13,695
    I'm inthescottishmafia.

    Default

    Well I had the best results with My Hlly t-90 using my valve WAD Pre 2.The amp on it's own was good,used with the pre was very good indeed.

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