Connecting one preamp to another preamp at unity gain?

Hello everyone, I am planning to try this but would like to know if there’s any potential issue with it.

I have a sim audio preamp that has a designated rca input as ht-bypass, so it’s basically at unity gain when you switch to that input.

I am thinking of connecting my Freya + rca output to the sim audio preamp ht-bypass input so I can use the Freya + in tube mode and pass the analog signal through the sim audio preamp to my power amp, rather than using a Nobsound xlr switch box.

Do anyone see any potential issue with that? I mean, that bypass feature is meant for connecting an AVR preamp out so it’s really no different you connect another preamp to it… am I missing anything here?

Cheers

Is ht-bypass, Home Theater bypass?

How many output channels does that unit have?

5 hours ago, Speedskater said:

Is ht-bypass, Home Theater bypass?

How many output channels does that unit have?

Yes home theater bypass. The sim audio preamp has 1 pair of xlr output and 2 pairs of rca output 

cheers

On 7/11/2024 at 11:43 PM, dericchan1 said:

that bypass feature is meant for connecting an AVR preamp out so it’s really no different you connect another preamp to it… am I missing anything here?

The HT input simply bypasses the Simaudio volume pot, correct? So there's no problem connecting the Freya+. You would then need to control volume level with the Freya.

The usual method to add another preamp or phono stage would be to connect the first preamp's tape outs to any line-level connection on the Simaudio pre. That would bypass the Freya level controller and give level control to the Simaudio preamp. Assuming the Simaudio is the better pre, that should result in higher sound quality, but may lessen or negate the Freya toobiness. 🙂 

EDIT: I don't think the Freya+ has a tape output (record out), so that option would not be feasibe.

18 minutes ago, audiobomber said:

The HT input simply bypasses the Simaudio volume pot, correct? So there's no problem connecting the Freya+. You would then need to control volume level with the Freya.

 

The usual method to add another preamp or phono stage would be to connect the first preamp's tape outs to any line-level connection on the Simaudio pre. That would bypass the Freya level controller and give level control to the Simaudio preamp. Assuming the Simaudio is the better pre, that should result in higher sound quality, but may lessen or negate the Freya toobiness. 🙂 

EDIT: I don't think the Freya+ has a tape output (record out), so that option would not be feasibe.

Thanks for this. Yes the ht-bypass feature of the sim preamp simply by-pass the volume control and turn that input to unity gain. 
 

You will be surprised that actually the sim preamp does not sound better than the Freya at 350% of the retail price, say if I compare the sim preamp with the Freya at passive mode. However the sim preamp does give me much more ergonomics, and most importantly it provides much needed gain for my system (compared to 0db gain of the Freya in passive mode) as my nuprime evolution sta power amp only has 21db of gain.

so this setup kinda works the best of both worlds. I get tube sound if needed at 12db gain, and I use the sim preamp solid state at 6db of gain

it was not a problem before when I used the ifi pro idsd that at xlr out has much higher voltage output than my current dacs 

Both the hqplayer dsc2 dac and the holo cyan 2 have much lower voltage output even using xlr