Anybody uses a SEG as a preamp?

[Giovanni68]

Just wondering, since I'm not using the turntable at all I'd like to give it a try to go from the Caiman straight to the power amp instead of passing through the Audio Research SP9 preamp just for the sake of trying to figure if there's any difference.

When used as a preamp what does it change towards the DAC modality?

Grazie

[Bigfishnet]

Just wondering, since I'm not using the turntable at all I'd like to give it a try to go from the Caiman straight to the power amp instead of passing through the Audio Research SP9 preamp just for the sake of trying to figure if there's any difference.

When used as a preamp what does it change towards the DAC modality?

Grazie

Hi Giovanni

I've just brought a SEG (with the Dorado power supply) and using it purely as a pre amp into an Exposure Super viii (8) on Stan's recommendation .

It sounds wonderful (to me) to the point that I will probably be selling the Exposure VII with the VI Power Supply ( I NEVER thought I would do that !!)

There is a switch on the device that changes from DAC to Preamp and you just connect it directly into the poweramp where the original preamp used to connect

Hope this helps a bit

Andy

[Giovanni68]

Hi Giovanni

I've just brought a SEG (with the Dorado power supply) and using it purely as a pre amp into an Exposure Super viii (8) on Stan's recommendation .

It sounds wonderful (to me) to the point that I will probably be selling the Exposure VII with the VI Power Supply ( I NEVER thought I would do that !!)

There is a switch on the device that changes from DAC to Preamp and you just connect it directly into the poweramp where the original preamp used to connect

Hope this helps a bit

Andy

Hello Andy,

I was just wondering, to simplify, to give it a try and bypass the preamp to find out if there is any change into sound which I find hard to achieve with my old sound chain but I will still have to wait for new tubes to come for my power amp, I make little or no use of the turntable which is the only reason to have a preamp like my AR SP9 with its phono stage otherwise it would be great to have less cables running around...

Oh, unfortunately I found out that the optical out of my cd player doesn't work, I dunno if it's me doing something wrong or if when I sent it to repair and upgrade the optical was bypassed, I will have to ask the guy who did the mods.

Grazie Andy and enjoy your SEG as much as I am enjoying mine!

Giovanni


p.s. Stan is great both before and after buying, really great support

[robtweed]

Just wondering, since I'm not using the turntable at all I'd like to give it a try to go from the Caiman straight to the power amp instead of passing through the Audio Research SP9 preamp just for the sake of trying to figure if there's any difference.


I use a SEG as a pre-amp directly into a Naim NAP 100 power amp. It works perfectly and delivers amazing results. Just set the pre-amp switch on the SEG

The only thing I had to do was to run an earth lead from the Naim's casing to the SEG's earthing point to remove an earth loop hum - I cannibalised the proprietary Naim connecting lead for this!

To be honest, if you only have digital sources, I don't see any point in using a separate pre-amp these days, provided your DAC has sufficient inputs and a variable output.

[mikeyb]

I use a SEG as a pre-amp directly into a Naim NAP 100 power amp. It works perfectly and delivers amazing results. Just set the pre-amp switch on the SEG

The only thing I had to do was to run an earth lead from the Naim's casing to the SEG's earthing point to remove an earth loop hum - I cannibalised the proprietary Naim connecting lead for this!

To be honest, if you only have digital sources, I don't see any point in using a separate pre-amp these days, provided your DAC has sufficient inputs and a variable output.Only thing I find using my SEG as a pre is limited volume, so I suppose it depends on the output to the power amp as to whether it's ideal or not.

[robtweed]

Only thing I find using my SEG as a pre is limited volume, so I suppose it depends on the output to the power amp as to whether it's ideal or not.

Certainly not a problem with my Naim amp and PMC speakers - rarely had the SEG volume control beyond half-way, at which point it's getting seriously **LOUD**! :-)

[StanleyB]

Only thing I find using my SEG as a pre is limited volume, so I suppose it depends on the output to the power amp as to whether it's ideal or not.
When did you buy the SEG, and has it had any of the hardware upgrades? The more recent ones have a higher pre-amp output.

[mikeyb]

When did you buy the SEG, and has it had any of the hardware upgrades? The more recent ones have a higher pre-amp output.No upgrades, bought it used on here so no idea of age. It sounds like it's an earlier version in need of some tweaking.

[StanleyB]

No upgrades, bought it used on here so no idea of age. It sounds like it's an earlier version in need of some tweaking.
It's £60 for a full upgrade if you are in the UK, or £115 with the Dorado and charger thrown in.

[mikeyb]

It's £60 for a full upgrade if you are in the UK, or £115 with the Dorado and charger thrown in.Been planning on doing the upgrade for the Dorado anyway but it will be a few weeks yet before I can send it off as I will need to wait on my Pi/DAC coming back from loan to replace it whilst it's away [emoji6]

[meBob]

I have Kenwood C1 Basic preamp that's been fully upgraded/moded and there is a noticeable difference between it and the SEG, the C1 has much better separation, the bass is much more defined and it seems to drive my power amp at higher volume levels better.

The SEG as preamp/dac combo is very good and will do the job for many budget and some mid range setups, but up against a decent standalone preamp it's weaknesses will show up.

[StanleyB]

I have Kenwood C1 Basic preamp that's been fully upgraded/moded and there is a noticeable difference between it and the SEG, the C1 has much better separation, the bass is much more defined and it seems to drive my power amp at higher volume levels better.

The SEG as preamp/dac combo is very good and will do the job for many budget and some mid range setups, but up against a decent standalone preamp it's weaknesses will show up.
It depends on if you have a standard SEG with the silver volume knob, or one of the later ones with the black knob and Dorado. The difference between the two versions is quite substantial. The black knob version has several improvements in the preamp section based on feedback from customers. That includes a deeper bass and increased pre-amp output level. There is a write up from someone in one of the threads who just started to use his new SEG as a pre-amp in preference to his far more expensive original pre-amp.

[barrasman]

Hi,

I've also just aquired a 2nd hand (silver knob) SEG, and use it as a pre-amp. This thing really rocks, love the sound, but I also found out that the output volume is kind of limited.

So the questions goes to Stan:

I use it with the supplied 12v transformer, but I can use a high quality power supply (Zetagi HP156S) that can supply 15V. The manual say the max voltage is 13v, but you've stated in several places that you run them on 15v - do you need any mods for that, or can it be used with 15v stock?

What upgrades are available and what are the costs involved?

What are the differences between the original SEG (the one I have) and the new one?

What upgrades do you consider to make the most difference?

[Alp]

Hi, I have tried my SEG (silver knob). I had no issues with the output level but found it more veiled than my passive pre-amp. Also, I need to switch the input to my monoblocs from the SEG to my AV-AMP.

[barrasman]

Hi, I have tried my SEG (silver knob). I had no issues with the output level but found it more veiled than my passive pre-amp. Also, I need to switch the input to my monoblocs from the SEG to my AV-AMP.

Well, I've done some comparisons with other power amps - the Denon POA-3200 has a 1.1v input sensitivity, hence the low output. With the Sony TA-N55ES I had no problems, since its input sensitivity is 0.18v. With this Sony, I can also use the SEG in DAC mode only, and use the attenuator to control de volume - the output is significantly louder! Also tried with the Rotel RB-930BX: in stereo the output is almost the same as the Denon (60W/ch and 1.0v input sensitivity); but in Bridged mode (180W) the output level is not an issue ;-)

@StanleyB, can you answer me the other questions? Cheers

[StanleyB]

@StanleyB, can you answer me the other questions? Cheers
The SEG works best at 15V, but it will work at 12V. The 13V is a printing mistake in the manual.
Upgrade wise the most important one is the Dorado with its own charger. After that the CMOS clock upgrade (which is in fact 4 other upgrades rolled into one) is next.

[barrasman]

Thanks Stan,

I've tried the Zetagi power supply, swichted between 12v and 15v on the fly with the potentiometer... no difference in sound. I also found the sound with provided PSU equal and more than adequate, so I'll stick to it.

[Giovanni68]

Hello,

I didn't want to open a new thread and as such am resurrecting this old one, since the virus emergency there is plenty of time to play at home and I would like to give it a try at using the SEG (which I bought somewhere around end of 2018 along with the Dorado) as a preamp and bypass the AudioResearch SP9 which comes handy when I want to listen to a vinyl so, just for the sake of it but am wondering if there is any issue at going straight into my tube amp, a Chinese made Aeron AP890 with twin KT88 whose specs I don't know since I bought it used and with no datasheet, so far I only know it has a 0,75v sensitivity and a 47Kohm impedance, would I run any issue by trying to drive the power amp directly with the SEG?

Grazie

27498

[CageyH]

I have run my power amps directly with the SEG.
Make sure you change the volume to variable, and turn it right down.

There should be no issue, but just build the volume up gently.

[Alp]

I tried it for a while but soon reverted to a passive preamplifier. There seemed to be a veil.over the music. It may well be system dependent.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

[mikeyb]

I tried it for a while but soon reverted to a passive preamplifier. There seemed to be a veil.over the music. It may well be system dependent.

Sent from my SM-G975F using TapatalkThat was my outcome too, great as a dac but sounded flat as a pre amp, booty to be fair it's more a dac/headphone amp than a pre amp

[StanleyB]

There has been a mod for the pre-amp section out for some months now. It is a major improvement over the standard pre-amp configuration. The change was only possible after the Dorado came out with its higher voltage output. If you have the Dorado already and would like that mod then email me. I should be able to do it for £25 with return postage for UK customers.

[Giovanni68]

I bought the SEG off of you in December 2018 along with the Dorado, any other upgrades after I got mine?

[mikeyb]

There has been a mod for the pre-amp section out for some months now. It is a major improvement over the standard pre-amp configuration. The change was only possible after the Dorado came out with its higher voltage output. If you have the Dorado already and would like that mod then email me. I should be able to do it for £25 with return postage for UK customers.

That sounds good, unfortunately don’t have my SEG anymore as I don’t need a separate DAC, I’ll keep a note of that upgrade though in case any one else asks about the SEG as a pre.

[mr sneff]

The SEG is a great DAC but I do prefer it with a passive preamp.

[Giovanni68]

Ok, will drop the idea and keep the AR SP9 in place next to the Gyrodec