Fore Play III , PS DLIII and Spec 4 can this work?

vuntruong · 9419

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline vuntruong

  • Newbie
  • *
    • Posts: 7
on: February 24, 2010, 02:32:09 PM
Hi guys,

I wanted to get a fore play III, but I am concern that it will be hard to incorporate it into my system.  I have PS audio DLIII Dac (i believe RCA signal out is 1.5 volts) and an old pioneer spec4 power amp.  Do you think a Tube preamp will play nice with the solid state amp.



Offline Doc B.

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 9540
    • Bottlehead
Reply #1 on: February 24, 2010, 03:17:44 PM
Sure, we have a lot of customers who use the Foreplay III with a solid state amp.

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President For Life
Bottlehead Corp.


Offline Paul Joppa

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 5751
Reply #2 on: February 24, 2010, 05:58:40 PM
Sweet! I just did a quick search, and I see the Spec 4 has level controls, so you can adjust the gain budget to optimize the noise performance. Should give impressive performance.

Paul Joppa


Offline Grainger49

  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 7175
Reply #3 on: February 25, 2010, 03:11:11 AM
The FP III has the ability to pad each input to fit your system.  On page 24 of the manual it tells how to adjust the preamp so it will allow you to use most of the volume control.

The only thing that might need to be done as well is to pad the input of your amplifier if it has a "hair trigger."  Some, but not all, solid state amplifiers go to maximum power with a very small signal.  Such high gain amps need two resistors for each channel to keep the noise floor back down where it belongs.



Offline Paul Joppa

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 5751
Reply #4 on: February 25, 2010, 06:58:09 AM
... Such high gain amps need two resistors for each channel to keep the noise floor back down where it belongs.
Or the input level control if there is one, as on the OP's amp.

Paul Joppa


Offline Grainger49

  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 7175
Reply #5 on: February 25, 2010, 11:50:57 AM
I didn't know it had a volume/level control.



Offline STURMJ

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
    • Posts: 279
Reply #6 on: February 28, 2010, 05:30:20 PM
I use a PS DLIII with my FPIII,  with no problems.



Offline vuntruong

  • Newbie
  • *
    • Posts: 7
Reply #7 on: March 03, 2010, 10:33:44 AM
Sweet, Thanks guys. 
I guess extended foreplay III would be the right preamp. 
I will get to the foreplay III when I have time.  I am currently focusing all my spare time into fixing my newly acquired kenwood 600.  I also Saw you guys are building a new DAC.  Is it going to be DIY kit? or finished product?  Oh, I need more time.



Offline vuntruong

  • Newbie
  • *
    • Posts: 7
Reply #8 on: March 05, 2010, 09:37:00 AM
OH Hell no!  Just when i made up my mind on the foreplay III, you guys decided to make me wait on a Tube Dac, and now the Crack.  Hmm,  dumb questions here.   If you guys, or when you guys release the DAC (tube i'm guessing) what is the point of the foreplay III if all my music comes from a digital source.  It just doesn't sounds right to pass the music through a tube dac--->tube preamp--->amp.  It just seems too Tubeee.  Correct me if i am wrong.  i am new at this. 



Offline Paul Birkeland

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
    • Posts: 19319
Reply #9 on: March 07, 2010, 08:59:55 AM
The output impedance of the Tube DAC is likely to be fairly high (~4k)  I know the buffer circuit is still in the works, so there may end up being changes that massage that number around a bit.

The Foreplay has an output impedance around 600 ohms, so you can not only drive longer cables between amp and preamp, but you can also drive an amplifier with low output impedance. 

Just so you aren't super worried, the crack is not a preamp ;)

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man