Sold Mac and Krell when they were current.I didn't like passive mode of Adcom.I got the whole stack with 300 wpc and given my speakers had to run it into my.To me it's same old story with every piece I have owned (old PS) or heard passive lacks dynamic drive and bass to get that extra quiet.If it's your thing you might consider a highly rated passive (what's the one everybody was so floored about just 3-4 years ago?).Or a Dodd Battery Pre.But I use a KRC2 in one of my systems and though it's old I love it.Haven't heard the DAC1 pre but I think it's good bang for buck though those who lay out for the Bel Canto 3 say BC blows it doors off.But you have killer high current amp Class amp and it deserves decent (preferably balanced connected) good pre.Hook that Dacmagic to your computer.
On DAC1pre.What I would say is keep it separate unless your trying to really keep price down.I trust 6moons and they said the Cullen modded PS Digilink III with USB input is a great value for $1400 but you could start for $500 with the DAC.Put that on top of Krell.But it's a matter of taste.The pre you have now was in it's day decent value and still is but high end mid fi so Krell (and probably Benchmark) will be much better.But I say nix on Benchmark unless all you want to do is save on $$$ since you can't swap one for the other.Just putting in my two cents when you like passive mode is that you might like TVC controller of full passive "pre" (it's kind of contradiction to call it a pre-AMPLIFIER right?Controller better term).Krell and Krell would be shortest tip but get some more opinion and do search on passives if that's your poison.But give that amp a fighting chance.
Cheers
Chazz
On DAC1pre.What I would say is keep it separate unless your trying to really keep price down.I trust 6moons and they said the Cullen modded PS Digilink III with USB input is a great value for $1400 but you could start for $500 with the DAC.Put that on top of Krell.But it's a matter of taste.The pre you have now was in it's day decent value and still is but high end mid fi so Krell (and probably Benchmark) will be much better.But I say nix on Benchmark unless all you want to do is save on $$$ since you can't swap one for the other.Just putting in my two cents when you like passive mode is that you might like TVC controller of full passive "pre" (it's kind of contradiction to call it a pre-AMPLIFIER right?Controller better term).Krell and Krell would be shortest tip but get some more opinion and do search on passives if that's your poison.But give that amp a fighting chance.
Cheers
Chazz