Preamp for my 2a3 Paramours?

[Poultrygeist]

I currently drive my Paramours with a Aric preamp which works fine if using just one output but when I drive a second amp it runs out of gas. My second amp is a pair of daisy chained Dayton APA 150's powering Alpha 15A's in open baffles. I'd like to go with a Foreplay but will it have enough to drive my second amp?

[Grainger49]

The question is going to be what is the input impedance and the gain of the second amp.  Most specs will have the input impedance.  Not as many, in fact few, will tell the gain.  That does not have anything to do with the power available as it might seem to.

To be sure I understand, do you drive both the Paramours and the Dayton amps at the same time, are the Dayton amps for subs?

Even if my above guess is wrong, what exactly do you mean by your Aric preamp runs out of gas?  Are you not reaching the volume you expect? 

I ask because at one point I had a problem with my sub being too loud and had to reduce the input beyond the capability of the sub controls.  This was necessary to match the sub (driven from the Foreplay 2) and the Zerius speakers driven by my Paramours (with a 76 driver tube, which has lower gain than the stock 12AT7).  You might be in an opposite condition.

[Poultrygeist]

The input impedance of the Dayton amp is 47K ohm. The two Daytons have crossover controls and are linked together so each amp powers one bass speaker ( Eminence Alpha 15A - 98 db ). The Paramours drive the main full range speakers ( Tang Band W8-1808 - 93 db ) Since I bi-amp the systerm all amps are used at the same time.

I'm wondering if the Foreplay has enough gain to drive this bi-amp configuration?

[Grainger49]

I suppose it would but you didn't answer my question.

" ... what exactly do you mean by your Aric preamp runs out of gas?  Are you not reaching the volume you expect?"

If that is the case which set of speakers, Eminence or Tang Band are not reaching the needed volume for a balanced system?

[Poultrygeist]

Sorry for not being more clear in my explanation. The Aric preamp's volume is not limited with one amp but when another is added it's severely limited ( i.e. runs out of gas ). I would think the Aric does not have enough gain to drive both amps. Could I expect the Foreplay to have enough gain?

[elcraigo]

I drive the Dayton APA 150 (for sub) and Paramour with a Foreplay III. It works fine for me.

Is the Aric preamp the Flagship Model 3.7?
If so, per Aric's website: It has an output Impedance of 10K ohm and 2.0 volts output
and the Foreplay III has output Impedance of 700 ohms and 10 V RMS output before clipping
The Foreplay will have better drive into the power amps, and more possible signal level.

[Paul Joppa]

It's hard to imagine that a 47K load would reduce the output enough to notice, which leads me to wonder whether there is not some other problem. You might try asking Aric about this problem. I did nto locate a schematic or other useful information on the Aric beyond the specs as quoted by elcraigo.

[Poultrygeist]

Yes the Aric is the 3.7 and it has a trim control on the rear which is difficult to fine tune.
I tried my friend's Conrad Johnson PV-2 and it drove both amps with ease.