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@navyachts I believe we discussed this before, but while the T+A DAC 200 has preamp functionality, it is easily bypassed, and you can use it in a line out mode. I know you feel like you may be paying for more features that you are not using, but the fact of the matter is that the DAC 200 punches well over it's price point against DACs in its price range that the preamp functions are just gravy. 

One benefit of its preamp is that the analog output stage is exceptional compared to other DACs in its price tier. This is one of the reasons the DAC 200 stands out. If T+A didn't design it to be capable of having a robust preamp section, it likely wouldn't sound as good as a standalone DAC, either.

One set of features that isn't discussed very often with this DAC are its DAC filters, which include two FIR filters, two proprietary Bezier / bit perfect filters, and two NOS filters. Being able to swap between these filters almost feels like having six different DACs.

I am an authorized T+A dealer, but owned T+A before becoming a dealer. Take it how you want.

@bluethinker Here's what it states in the manual:

NOS 1 - With this setting the upsampling of the DAC 200 is deactivated and the analog output filter (lowpass) is automatically set to 60 kHz for sampling rates of 44.1 and 48 kHz. For higher sampling rates, the setting you selected under the Lowpass menu item is used.

NOS 2 - If you select this setting, upsampling of the DAC 200 is deactivated. The analogue output filter always has the value selected under the menu item Lowpass.

BEZ 1 is a Bezier interpolator combined with a IIR filter. This process produces a result very similar to an analogue system.

BEZ 2 is a pure Bezier interpolator – offering perfect “timing” and dynamics.

FIR 1 is a classic FIR filter with an extremely linear frequency response.

FIR 2 is a FIR filter with improved peak handling.

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I believe T+A pretty much include the FIR filters to show how much better the NOS, and particularly, their proprietary BEZ filters sound. In my experience, the three warmest are NOS1, NOS2 and BEZ1. The most detailed, neutral, and balanced with the most holographic soundstage is BEZ2 for me.

Most of my clients who have purchased a DAC 200 prefer the BEZ 2 filter, but a few prefer BEZ1 and some love the NOS filters.

At a very basic principle, T+A strives for emotional response... goosebumps, if you will. Their words, not mine. I've found their gear to be a really great blend of the best of both worlds of being slightly harmonically rich and natural and also having incredible, non-fatiguing resolution and clarity.

Hope this helps!