2. amps-preamps
  3. 186593-9734

DAC DIRECT IN TO AMPLIFIER OR TO PREAMPLIFIER

For the longest time, I believed that the best preamplifier is no preamplifier.  Eliminating a component from the audio chain would yield less distortion & greater purity.

Recently, I have had reason to re-think my logic on the matter - and I am (I think) changing my mind.  Better said, assuming that the preamplifier in the component you are using (in my case, a DAC) can produce 95% or greater quality sound compared to the preamplifier component, then no preamplifier is the best option.  The 5% represents the (estimated) loss of fidelity in adding another set of interconnects.

That said, most DACs do not have an outstanding preamplifier built in.  I think most have average passive attenuators, and the better DACs have active preamplifiers that are very good - but not as good as a quality preamplifier.

What are your thoughts?

 

 

128x128paul_lindemann

Showing 1 response by pwerahera

pwerahera
107 posts
 

I had tried both ways. While my preamp (VTL TL 2.5) was in service, I was forced to feed the Cary Audio 303/200 CD player directly to my ML 23.5 using the built-in digital volume control. Music sound up-front and I enjoyed it for a little while. However, I cannot say I could enjoy the music for a longer period of time.

Once I got back my preamp, it was a completely a different story. Music was laid back, but depth and left-to-right imaging got more defined as opposed to direct connection. VTL 2.5 is a tube preamp (2x12AU7 and 2x12AT7) and male/female voices were so much better.

I have two DACs in the system (AR DAC2 and DAC3) feeding Cary Audio SLP 03, another tube preamp, and I don't think I will ever go back to direct connections. Preamp is a must have in your system.

 

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