Pre Amp

Would a seperate pre amp really make a difference?

I have a Parasound HCA 1200 amplifier that I am driving with an old Pioneer reciever (SX-780) silver face, analog. Driving the amp from the headphones jack. I am thinking of getting a Carver or Adcom pre amp. Do you think it will sound audibly better? I’ll tell you this, my speakers sound way better through the Parasound than they did with the Pioneer receiver driving them. Particularly in the bass. Any thoughts?

There are two levels of audio, mic level and line level. Mic level is not enough to drive an amplifier and requires a preamp. (Many amps have a built-in preamp and, depending upon input, will access it or bypass it.)

Line level does not require a preamp. In fact, if you do try to run line level into a preamp, all you’ll do is distort the audio something horrible. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.

Why two different levels? The stronger, higher lline level will travel further with less degradation. But the weaker, lower mic level will maintain better frequency response over the same distance.

CD players, DVD players, tape players, use line level. Some old turntables also use line level from the ceramic cartridge pickups with the needle. But for better quality vinyl playback, the better turntables used mic level magnetic cartridges.

RADIO SHACK HTA 20 2 METER POWER AMPLIFIER & PRE-AMP HELICAL RESONATOR 30 WATT $9.99

CELWAVE 900 HAM RECEIVER PREAMP PF861 $49.95

ADVANCED RECEIVER RESEARCH GalliumArsenide FET (GaAsFET) preamp LOWEST S/N RATIO $44.95

Ameco Converter/Preamp, etc. manuals plus+++ »R² $13.95

MACO RECIEVE PRE – AMP ! NICE ! $25.00

PDC100FM Vehicle FM Radio Pre-amp for weak FM Reception $20.00

ARR 2 mtr preamp SP144VDA $2.25

cb radio anteena preamp $2.00

Art Studio MP Microphone Preamp / Preamplifier for Ham Radio Microphone $15.00

Headphone/Microphone adapter with microphone preamp for Yaesu FT-857 / FT-897 $49.99

2 Meter Pre Amp $4.89

AMECO PREAMPLIFIER, MODEL PT-2, 1.8 to 54 MHz. $27.55

CB Radio Preamp +25dB Increase / Boost Receive RX Gain 13.8vDC $9.99

RME RADIO MFG ENGINEERS DB23 TUBE HF 80 40 20 15 10 RF PREAMPLIFIER PRESELECTOR $99.95

RF Concepts RFC 4-310 70cm 430-450MHz Amplifier SSB PreAmp 30w in 100w out $234.95

Loral Vintage Preamp 111324-000 w/Tubes Raytheon JRP-5842 JRP-5654/6AK5W Amperex $19.95

Morrow A-12A preamp antenna LORAN Marine $79.99

GLOBAL Manual DX-MAGNUS MIC PRE-AMP Wiring inst $10.00

Pre-Amp Receiver Bandit $20.00

Pre-Amp Receiver Bandit $20.00

PALOMAR TRANSFORMER PRE AMP HAM RADIO EQUIPMENT!! Amateur Radio $250.00

DENSEI RF PRE-AMPLIFIER TA-27 NEW IN BOX SEALED $59.99

2N4401 NPN Small Signal Transistor, Preamp Trans. for CB Radio’s – 25 pcs $5.89

Pyle Pro Pwma1003T 1000-Watt Hybrid Pre-Amplifier & Wireless Microphone System $170.77

Ameco VHF Converter and Preamplifier Models CN & PV (for parts/repair) $39.99

Texas Star Keying / Pre Amp Transistor Matched Pair fit’s Linear & Modulators $1.19

PRE AMP BOARD – INSTALLS INSIDE OF CB HAM RADIO + 25DB $4.65

Motorola Mitrek VHF Hi-Band Receiver Pre-Amp $18.95

(6) TA7705 Configurable Op-Amps, LOW NOISE Audio Pre-Amp (very versatile Op-AMP) $7.00

MFJ-1020A Indoor Active Antenna, Preamp, Preamplifier, QRP $49.99

ICOM AG-20 Preamp for IC-271A $129.00

PREAMP FET 2 GHz 24V INPUT —————-LOC D-15 $20.00

J310 push-pull HF pre-amp complete KIT $19.95

CELWAVE Janel 900 HAM RECEIVER PREAMP PF8335 $39.95

MRP2000 MK2 Wide Band Radio Scanner Pre-Amplifier 25-2000MHz 6-20dB Gain $59.95

M/A-Com RC-450-4 UHF Receiver Combiner Preamp 440-475 MHz $129.95

R.M. MOD.160P AMPLIFIER W/PREAMP (KL200/P) $99.50

Texas Star Linear Amplifier Keying / Preamp Transistors Pair $2.49

6 LOT CB Radio Pre Amplifier! Receiver Booster 10 db Gain Ham Radio $71.99

CB Radio Pre Amplifier! Receiver Booster 10 db Gain Receive Increase Ham Radio $19.99

Harris Preamp 40-225 MHz, 1 Watt Ham Radio, Linear $24.95

Pre-amp Tube Amplifier Headphone Kit 6N3 for DIY New $19.96

UNIDEN SCANNER RECEIVE PREAMP FOR BEARCAT MODELS BC600XLT, BC590XLT, BC950XLT $9.99

Commander Palomar Texas Star Keying Pre Amp Transistors $2.99

New Tube 6N3 Buffer Audio Preamplifier Pre-AMP Board $26.00

Raven Industries Commercial GPS Line Amplifier PreAmp $49.95

SUB preamplifier board NE5532 35-150Hz adjustable $18.90

Solid State HF Power Linear Preamplifier Driver $100.00

LIL Pre Amplifier CB Radio Ham Radio Pre Amp” Workman” $6.99

Buffer 6N3 Tube Preamplifier AMP + Transformer $48.00

The signal from a microphone that picks up is actually very low, and needs to be strengthened so it can be used with the recording device. This is exactly what is a microphone preamplifier is, it increases the signal to a level that is useable for recording.

Initially, you probably want to use pre-amplifiers built into your mixer or interface, if you happen to have good, since it saves money. However, these types of preamplifiers are often a rather low quality. Basically, with mic preamps, you pay for the sound quality. Musicians after the best deal as it might sound spend $ 3000 on a preamp. However, if you are just beginning and perhaps a budget of $ 1000 can use the preamps on your mixer or your audio interface.

It is not only budget that affects the quality of output in the preamp, you must also know how to properly set levels, etc. Let's talk a little about the features you'll find most mic pre, and some tips to ensure you get optimal sound.

Entry – Set the input high as possible to provide the meters are not crossing into the red. After reaching the levels of red is the introduction distortion, which will go through the entire signal path. The sense that when you listen back to your record in the team, who are likely to hear a lot of clicks. So again, press the signal as high as possible, but not let it enter into the red.

Pad – This is a great feature if you want to record other sounds than the guitar. For example, if you go to a microphone and sound source loud as the drum, even with the entry all the way back to the levels may still be catching red. Select this function and will help tame the sound and make it usable.

Phantom Power – This is a source of energy that is sent through a microphone cable to a microphone in need, as a condenser microphone. Is good to point out that some fairly inexpensive preamps offer only 30 v, and some condenser microphones can not perform his best at this level. It's good to have food Built-in phantom microphone preamp would otherwise have to obtain a separate phantom power supply.

Number of preamps – This can vary from a single right preamp through eight preamps in one box. What is recording usually determine how many need. Vocals are usually recorded in mono, while acoustic guitars could be recorded in stereo. Maybe you're recording a full band and require one for each amplifier and vocalist, along with several of the drums.

High Pass Filter - In general, this means that all high cross while reducing low. Microphones pick up an amazing amount of bass so this is a great feature to have. Of course, this can be corrected using the software, though well could solve the problem at source so you do not have to worry later.

We hope this has given him an idea of what a mic preamp does, and what features to look for when shopping around. Have a read through the bullet points again and compare your list of needs with the characteristics those available in a variety of preamps. Hopefully you will be able to find a product that suits your needs.

About the Author:

Richard Marples has over 10 years experience of playing and recording guitar, and also hosts a website exaplaining how you can record at home. If you enjoyed this article on Home Recording then you can get more free tips at =>
www.uncleslinky.co.uk

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Home Recording Guitar – Why You Need a Mic Pre-amp