Pioneer U-05? It has variable outputs so it can replace your pre amp. It has multiple digital inputs and both rca and xlr outputs. What do you use as a streaming source?
Dac upgrade?
I try to get good sound at a “reasonable” price. System consists of Magnepan 1.7 speakers, Prima Luna HP amp, an Audio Reasearch SP-3 preamp (purchased almost 40 years ago) an HRT (High Resolution Technology) dac. When streaming (I use Spotify Premium. Never tried Tidal. Don’t use headphones. The HRT dac is about 4-5 years old, one of the earlier DACs on the market, I believe. Was thinking of a not very expensive dac upgrade, such as the Schiit Bifrost. Two questions for the community. How likely is it that I will experience a significant improvement in sound with (for example) the Bifrost? I realize that I can get a 15 day trial which would be my own gold standard. Of interest, Schiit said they had no idea. Second question— with a budget of up to $1000, any other suggestions? I would require a trial for any possible purchase. One final factor, I am almost 72 and I certainly do not have world class hearing, but I am pretty confident that I can still recognize good sound when I hear it, like the Supreme Court justice who famously said he could not define pornography,but knew it when he saw it. Thanks!