Removing Unused Preamp Connections

[Marco]

If your preamp has most (or all) of its inputs used when your CDP, T/T, tuner, phono stage, etc, is plugged into it, have you ever tried disconnecting everything other than what's necessary for playing music at the time?

So if you're listening to, say, CD, disconnect the leads that are plugged into your other source inputs...

Doing so, in my experience, improves sound quality and gives a more natural, detailed, and 'focused' sound. Quite often, a lot of the stuff that's plugged into your preamp isn't used regularly so why not maximise the performance of the components that are? The improvement is subtle but in my opinion definitely worthwhile.

Marco.

[Steve Toy]

Perhaps running a single-source system is really the answer

[Vinyl Grinder]

If your preamp has most (or all) of its inputs used when your CDP, T/T, tuner, phono stage, etc, is plugged into it, have you ever tried disconnecting everything other than what's necessary for playing music at the time?

So if you're listening to, say, CD, disconnect the leads that are plugged into your other source inputs...

Doing so, in my experience, improves sound quality and gives a more natural, detailed, and 'focused' sound. Quite often, a lot of the stuff that's plugged into your preamp isn't used regularly so why not maximise the performance of the components that are? The improvement is subtle but in my opinion definitely worthwhile.

Marco.

Marco:
It's called ground coupling, the signal ground of the other sources are interacting with each other causing breakthrough, degrading the signal in the process. You need ground switching Or like me one source only as steve says...

[Mike Reed]

I'm quite sure there is deleterious interraction between plugged-in sources. However, the thought of fiddling around among a congested rat's tail of leads behind the pre-amp every time I wanted to listen to the radio, CDP, record-player or TV/video fills me with horror.

I'd gladly forsake a little quality for the convenience.

Mind you, having a separate pre. for each source, as has been mooted,(and separate amps, and separate speakers). Now, THAT'S something I haven't thought of!

[Vinyl Grinder]

Or you could just fit the selector switch that switches both signal & ground.Best fitting the best, Elma are pearlers.

[Filterlab]

Perhaps running a single-source system is really the answer

And then use a pre-amp with a single input, or better yet avoid a pre altogether and go direct from source to power amp.

[Mike Reed]

Thanks for your replies, and of course what you say about 'straight to power amp.' makes sense:- theoretically!

However, re. the Elma switch selector (and excuse my senile naivety here), is one supposed to solder each interconnect to the terminals (effectively doing the job of the pre., I guess)? Then connect the (monoblock) leads to the output side in parallel? OR construct interconnect input sockets which are themselves hard-wired to the Elma? Thus effectively building a simplified passive control-less pre.?

To me this is quite a radical if hairshirt approach, though I can see financial and sonic merit therein. Pity about buggering up so many (expensive) i/connects, though. Furthermore, how would one control volume, use mute and generally introduce other kit/experiment/ record out, etc? Surely this is where the pucka 'control centre' (a.k.a. Pre.) comes into its own?

I believe I have one of the most revealing preamps. around (reflected in its cost, no doubt) and whereas I concede to the 'simple is best' path, I cannot see a viable alternative to my oft-used, multi-sourced, 24/7 powered, hard-wired to the mains system.

If you disagree, I'd be interested to receive enlightenment.

[Mike Reed]

By the way, Filterlab, where is the 'classifieds' section? Or hasn't it started yet?

[Filterlab]

...construct interconnect input sockets which are themselves hard-wired to the Elma? Thus effectively building a simplified passive control-less pre.?

Yes, on both the signal and ground paths. This essentially eliminates any crosstalk from components on other inputs via the ground. Extreme I know, but it could be one of those things for an 'audiophile with time on his hands' to do on a Sunday.

For me it's a little out there and whilst I understand the merits of disconnecting each component when it's not in use, I personally couldn't be bothered with the continued hassle of plugging and unplugging. However I actually only have two sources and a separate system for each - one being the two channel system (Mac, DAC, power amp, speakers), the other system being the AV side (PS3, AV amp, 5 speakers). These two systems don't meet anywhere and consequently there's no 'bleed' from the AV side to the 2 channel side.

[Filterlab]

By the way, Filterlab, where is the 'classifieds' section? Or hasn't it started yet?

It's called (rather romantically) 'Private Exhibitions' and it's located in the main 'Hi-Fi, Studio and Trade' section. We've tried to keep the forum titles in keeping with 'art' so they take a little getting used to - although they are, of course, genius titles.

http://theartofsound.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=22