How many switched inputs on your preamp do you use?

pmcuk

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Can you help all us DIY preamp builders by telling us how many pairs of RCA single ended inputs you use on your preamp? And what they are?

1 pair (L+R)
2 pairs
3 pairs
4 or more pairs

This is just line inputs for a line only preamp.

Doesn't apply to phono stages which would not be in a line only preamp. An input from a separate phono stage would count, however.

Doesn't apply to balanced inputs either via XLR, just RCA inputs.
 

MVJ

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I use three pairs for all my inputs which are, Phonostage, Streamer, and SACD player.

Output is XLR to Event Opal Speakers.
 
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Batty

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3 pairs.
1. Output from DAC which has 5 digi inputs. USB from laptop, opt from SB touch, coax from CDP.
2. output from MC phono stage.
3. output from MM phono stage.
 

MF 1000

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There are only two pairs on my DHT pre…I use one for cd one for i out from my sky box or Bluetooth adapter
 

rabski

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Five. I don't normally need that many, but for my own builds I may as well have too many rather than too few. Normally I've got two phono stages and the DAC plumbed in, but it means I can run an input direct from the CD player and still have a spare input for testing and comparing things.
 

Lurch

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3
Phono
CDP
DAC

System 2
5
Phono
CDP
DAC
Tuner
Cassette deck
 

Sotosound

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Four, but will probably end up using the fifth as well.

Phono
CD
Streamer/server
TV
Cassette

I had the fifth added through a customization prior to purchase.
 

Tony T

Tony T
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3 pair RCA inputs use 1 for Phono Stage
2 pair XLR inputs use 1 for DAC
4 pair XLR outputs use 2 for Antimode 2.0 and monoblocs.
All balanced.
 

Alvolake

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Just 1 which really means none as it a default setting. That way I used the input switch knob to control the volume of another pot thereby improvising a balance control on my A21SE.
 

uzzy

Grumpy Old Git
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David
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my SP9 provides me with just enough RCA inputs 6

Phono (for you line stage with phono pre in front)
Tape 1 (I have a cd recorder plugged into this and the output from tape 1 into the cd recorder)
Tape 2 (I have the DACplugged in here and this is handy for comparing DACs against the CD or streamer built in one)
CD
Tuner/streamer
Video (tv input)

Also vital the number of outputs
Tape 1 output (into the cd recorder)
Tape 2 output (my headphone amp is hooked up here)
Main pre output
(You might like to double up the Main Output to allow for Biamping (not that I would bother)
 

pmcuk

Wammer
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This is very helpful!
- many more need 3 input pairs than 2 inputs, so that should be designed in
- not sure what to do about 5 inputs. Maybe leave space to fit if needed.

Keep the answers coming! Very interesting!
 

rabski

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This is very helpful!
- many more need 3 input pairs than 2 inputs, so that should be designed in
- not sure what to do about 5 inputs. Maybe leave space to fit if needed.

Keep the answers coming! Very interesting!
It's a pain to build though.

Enough casework room for five pairs of inputs and (at least) one pair of outputs. Plus the hideously time-consuming wiring to the selector switch. My original kondon't clone was six inputs and I switched ground and signal. That's 24 wires from sockets to selector switch. On the bright side, at least I didn't try and do it with Litz stuff...
 
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