Using pre-amps with the virus?

[Barnelby]

So my dad built a headphone amp, and after hearing the amazing difference between a normal signal and the boost of a cheap homemade headphone amp, it makes me wonder what kind of potential could be tapped by running a synth through a nice pre amp...anyone here done it?

[synthfiend]

Yeah!...I did wonder that myself sometime back.
If you then used a decent A/D convertor, who knows, you might end up with a nice fat sound.

[Roby31]

Many people do it, but you need to like what your preamp does to the signal. It could crap it out completely instead of giving "fatness" and "warmth" to it. I'd prefer a very light tube overdrive (clean and creamy) on some sounds rather than some cheap/standard preamps :)

[ian]

I use an API 3124 with my TI and it sounds incredible (I do have good a/d). I really like the sound I get with my Great River pre as well. Very sweet, big and 3d, though not as tight and punchy as the API.

Both of these improve my sound substantially. I think the key really is the transformers which give that big sound. I've tried the Virus with a transformerless Solid State Logic preamp and it wasn't nearly as cool.