Placette RVC

Actarus
"I just bought a serviced_recapped E-202.
I'm thinking to connect it only to the LINE output of my DAC, so my plan is to access directly the Amp stage of the Accuphase."

If your dac has volume control ability . Why think, just do. It takes all of 30sec to try, I think you maybe in for a surprise.

You'll hear your dac's output unmolested by any colourations that active preamps bring to the mix, that's why they all sound different to each other.

Cheers George

Depends on the gain of your amp and the output of your source. This is known as the "Bolero Test"
You could try it from the direct line out of your source with no volume at all, but you need to use a cd to see how loud it's going to get, hence the Ravel Bolero cd is ideal as it starts off very quiet and builds so you can then gauge if you are going to blow your amp.

Cheers George

If you drive your amp from the headphone output, naturally you'll need a stereo headphone to two male rca adapter you get these just about anywhere for a couple of bucks.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-6-5mm-Aux-Male-to-2-RCA-Female-Socket-Adapter-Y-Splitter-Connector-Converter-/291121613799?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item43c8334be7

Or just use the fixed line out with a decent 10kohm passive preamp like the Schitt SYS $49 which uses Alps 10kohm Logarithmic Volume Pot.
http://schiit.com/products/sys

Cheers George

05-18-15: Actarus
Agreed George, I'll try that as soon as I receive the E-202

I'm still wondering about the second question though... ;).

I don't know this one, being passive I would say no. Unless it has it's own colouration and you like those colourations over going direct.
And it shouldn't colour/distort the source signal as much as actives do.

Cheers George

No should be fine, as it will be a nice low low output impedance because of a headphone driver opamp, but a normal output with VC would probably sound better because the head phone opamp won't be in the signal path.

Just turn the VC down before you try.

Cheers George