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Yes depending on tubes and gain, a CSP really can make the sound more lucid, weighty and dynamic. I don't think I have ever loved a Decware pre stages flat out myself.... but I can see how it could be good depending on all else.
JMeader. I think a good way to think of a pre stage is as a front end tuning tool.... in essence it takes the DAC stream or whatever, and influences the source signal with the Pre's sonic values. So I guess we could say it is part of the source as the amp reads it. And if that pre offers really good sonic values at various output voltages, with no damages to the signal, the amount of those sonic enhancements present basically depend on how high we raise a nice pre's gain.
Then, thinking about a lower power amp, it has a given level of power it can produce to amplify the signal before clipping, and that is about it for that wattage and amp design.
When our "source," is a higher voltage DAC (say 7 volts), or a lower voltage out DAC (say 2 volts) with a pre stage that can increase the source gain to say 10 volts... the amp will "feel" those source voltage differentials as less or more source "volume." So with my setups, I think of signal "volume" pretty much as "pass through" as the amp gets it. Yet the amp, if close to being too low power for a setting, still has its max limitations of amplification gain before clipping.
So roughly, with more source voltage into this amp, if the source voltage pushes the amps limits, the amp gain will need to be a little lower to avoid clipping.... Or another way to look it is, if the amp and pre gain-tuned balance is at about max without clipping, and you raise the pre stage gain a little more, it will likely push the amp into clipping. Or if you lower the pre gain some, the amp gain can be higher before clipping. This points to "gain riding," the Pre higher giving the sound more pre influence, and the Pre lower, and amp higher to create the same volume, the Pre sonic values will be less.... a nice tool for the system/room tuning, and/or for individual recording balancing.
I have never tried what you are suggesting with splitting the signal with DSP, makes some sense with a lot of energy in those lower frequencies... but I don't know from experience. If it were able to help much, I guess a question would be how much the DSP effects the new amp's sound, and on how well you could dial in the low frequencies to seamlessly match your speakers....
Seems most folks who have worked hard to get a well tuned sub, talk about more perceived volume and clarity, soundstage, etc, from running speaker level from the amp to the speakers, and to the sub, influencing the sub sound with the pure amp sound, and really carefully tuning them together. Both getting the same signal, seems it can enhance everything when all is right with sub tuning. I was just talking to a buddy who is a great listener toward what makes a natural and balanced sound, and setting up a new room. He really likes MJ Acoustic's smaller subs, good sound, and as much, easily adjustable from the seat with phone app. So you can dial in phase, frequency, volume, etc in fine adjustments while in the seat. He said, as usual, each adjustment influences the others, but once all was about right for seamless integration across recordings, a big room, but he was finding he could then adjust the soundstage dimensions with a few little sub adjustments.
Avoiding subs for a long time, I finally decided I should try this with a much less costly SVS 1000 pro, which has fine adjustability using a phone too. They also have a great return policy, but hoping it will be a refinement and a keeper... maybe in a week or two I could comment on how it works here.
But if your Scalas have really fast and nicely integrated bass... seems it might be nice to just run them with the amp(s)... I get your dilemma, concerns about the edge with your high volume room, but those are some efficient sounding speakers! I feel the pain though, personally not liking the edge of clipping much. I wonder how big Steve's room is... looks high volume though, and those efficient big baffles in there sound pretty huge.... I wonder if they can rattle loose objects with a SE 84 or with dual mono 84s?
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