Add a pre-amp to Mola Mola Tambaqui?

I don’t own it but thought the Tambaqui has a volume control that you can use with the Mola Mola app…no?

I am not a fan of having a streamer attenuate a signal to DAC although supposedly the Leedh is not bad.

Also, depends on what amp you’re running currently, and if whether or not you feel you’re missing something without a preamp. In my experience a good active preamp had the dac to amp beat out.

Try a Benchmark LA4 for a 30-day home trial, I was all in on getting the Makua about 6 years ago. Then looked at the descriptions of both the LA4 and Makua and thought the LA4 maybe a cheaper version of the Makua. I am not even curious about the Makua now.

The Leedh volume control on the Lumin X1 (owned it) was almost as good as the volume on the LA4 preamp. The areas where it was not as good was really not that important in real usage (very low volume).

The Lumin X1 is the only DAC that I think the volume control was similar to a preamp. ALL digital DAC volume controls I owned, except the X1, were lacking to my ears. Just lower the volume and listen.

BTW - I owned the KRELL DUO 175XD and loved it with the LA4 preamp. I was also planning on buying the KEF Blade but did not think it could survive in my home. Another preamp to consider that is similar to the LA4 is the Holo Serene.

BTW2 - Since you were mentioning using a tube preamp in front of the KRELL DUO 300XD. Something I would not do, too warm. I would look at a preamp such as the CODA 07x or Schitt Mjolnir to warm things up. Still too warm for me but I think a better choice than tubes. That Mjolnir is a beauty for $1100. I use it with headphones. Sold the 07x.

I have owned a Tambaqui and at the same time had a customer consign a Makua with the DAC built in. Unless you are dead set on conserving space, I would opt for a separate preamp and use the full Tambaqui unit. While the preamp is very clean, it did not offer good harmonics, and its effect on the Sonics left it a bit dry and processed sounding compared to many other preamps I’ve tried. 

I’ve also posted in other threads about DACs and their analog stages and have mentioned that after testing, I would never run a Tambaqui direct to amp. Its built in volume control is abysmal for a $14K unit. You will absolutely gain much (pun intended) by adding a quality preamp to the chain. 

Honestly, a wonderful and affordable tube preamp that would pair with the Tambaqui and has a small form factor is the Audio Mirror Linea. It is barebones but at $3K better sounding that Vinnie Rossi solutions that cost over $10K. 

thanks very much for all the feedback. I am now looking at these recommendations.

The reason I am leaning toward a warmer preamp is because I use a pair of stealth audio silver speaker cables that use helium vacuum dielectric. The dielectric constant is close to 1.0... So in terms of speed, these are as fast sounding as they get. They are a good match with the blades as it amplifies all the strengths of the speakers. lots of subjective "air" from the cables combined with the uni-q design of the blades already gives an ultra detailed, transparent, and holographic presentation

So I’m very much worried about a clinical sound signature. I dont want something that would spoil the sound I’m getting and be dry

I can very much afford something more analog sounding as I’m sure the presentation will still be ultra detailed

One of the main attractions to the Tambaqui to me is that it doesnt sound very digital.

It’s all about system matching

also, and i dont know if this is allowed on the forums, I dont know ultimately where to buy the tambaqui. The only online seller I can see is the music room. I would prefer to buy direct from a dealer. I live in Illinois if that helps. thanks

How do you know the Tambaqui doesn’t sound “digital “ if you never heard it?
TMR will take it back if you don’t like how it sounds. Not all local dealers will offer this benefit

I heard it but I don’t own it

i have friends.... i would just go to the same place he bought his except he bought a used unit and i cant seem to find one..

i check this website every day and never see it drop on the market

Here’s a used one. You can workout out a deal. 
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650010344-mola-mola-tambaqui-streamer-amp-dac/

I owned a Tambaqui for a short while until a few weeks ago.  I liked the sound better when using an outboard preamp.  I also played with the output voltage, which you can do through the app but I cannot remember which setting I liked best, maybe the top position (6V?).  

You should definitely call them but I believe TMR is actually a Mola Mola dealer.  The only way you will be able to answer these questions is to try one for yourself with/without an outboard preamp, and trying the different configurations in your own system.  Below is the return policy posted on TMR's website - a 60-day trial is hard to beat IMO.

New product lines for which TMR is an authorized dealer carry a 60-day satisfaction-guaranteed return policy. Return shipping costs are at the expense of the customer unless the product is defective. Full manufacturer warranties are in effect for these products.

thanks for the leads

@questforhifi GTT Audio is the distributor for Mola Mola in the US will know the dealer closest to you. You may want to give them a call. 

As I write this, I am listening to my $1100 Class A Schitt Mjolnir preamp with a $800 Class A Schitt Aegir amp and a Schitt Yggi+ LIM DAC with a RAAL CA-1a headphone. I am listening to the group Sault and it is incredible. I need warmth in this setup.

This preamp is going work well with the KRELL DUO. Forget about the Tambaqui's contribution to the sound. That is not going to determine your sound as much as the KRELL. I personally would not use the Mjolnir with Blades since the other 2 preamps I mentioned are not warm, but the Mjolnir will do what you seek with added warmth. This preamp also has a 15-day home trial. It sounds great with Class A amps like the Aegir and I am sure the Class A KRELL.

I know the sound of the KRELL XD well since I owned 2 of these pieces and I am debating trading in my big amp for the new KRELL KSA i400. Your KRELL is going to dominate your sound, not the Tambaqui. Seek a preamp that matches the amp.

Interesting comments about the amp

So how about the krell illusion preamp? If pre-amp pairing is more about matching amp than it is about changing sound signature

what better way to match then use flagship pre-amp from same company?

I could even connect the amp and pre with CAST interconnect, which would be very appealing 

and yes the illusion is a very expensive pre-amp but on the used market its often found below 10k

see ultimately I'm only getting a pre-amp for sound quality. I dont need it for connectivity. Not to mention the mola mola has a decent volume control, and the lumin has an EXCELLENT volume control with leedh. 

dont get me wrong having the pre-amp functionality is nice, but I kinda view it as a glorified power conditioner in a way

This may sound sacrilegious, but I like the sound of the KRELL XD so much that I would never want to use a preamp that adds anything to the amps sound. You give me a free $100k preamp, no thanks, if it adds to the sound. Not the way I want my system anymore.

A KRELL dealer told me that the CAST is not that good. I do not know since I never tried it.

If you are going to go KRELL preamp, wait because they want to come out with a new preamp to match the KSA i400 amp that I mentioned earlier. If I were to get that $36k KRELL amp I would use my $3k Benchmark LA4 with it. I know that it is a great pairing because it was so with the DUO 175XD.