Lots of options, especially if you don’t need analog. I would look at digital preamplifiers that avoid analog stages and provide attenuation in the digital domain. I would also look at units that can attenuate 24 bit signals without truncating bits. Unfortunately you need to go way up the Bel Canto line before both these boxes are checked.
NAD has a couple of good ones however, the c510, the m51, and your budget may even allow you to sneak into a m12. These are spectacular units.
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It’s a little bit beyond your budget, but you may be able to locate one used for around $3000, the PS Audio Direct Stream Junior. It’s not a preamp, per se, but can operate as one. I’ve used it as a preamp and was quite impressed with the results. As far as how it performs as a DAC, there’s been plenty written and reviewed on them. They do have a network bridge, so streaming Tidal and Roon is quite seamless. Heck, you may be able to call them directly to see if you could peel one from them at a discount/Black Friday type deal, may be worth a shot.
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Benchmark DAC3 or Mytek Brooklyn |
NAD M51 is on sale at the Audio Advisor at almost half price. Sounds like a great deal for someone looking for a very good digital preamp. |
The Mytek is a great suggestion. |
The Ayre Codex can be run as a DAC with Preamp Volume function.
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I have the C510 (same internals as M51) and would say it's very detailed & doesn't have any glaring faults. I recently auditioned the Codex and found it just a little bit better all around (but not enough to feel it was worth the price to upgrade). The following week I heard the Chord Hugo2 and that just seemed to do everything right. Saving my money for one now. |
If you want to save some money for other parts of your setup, The Emotiva Stealth DC-1 gets really good reviews. It comes with a remote, one set of RCA inputs, a Balanced DAC, and a great headphone amp. |
is having the DAC inside your preamp a must as you really are losing out on many great used Preamps and DAC as separates. having an outboard DAC also lets you upgrade the DAC down the road. DAC's Are getting smaller by the year and could easily be placed behind another component if you don't want to see it. |
Hello The Lumin player is excellrnt and for under $2500 you can get with optional linear tube audio outboard Linear PS and upgraded umbilical cord.beating systems 3x as much and very analog sounding.
I bought it and added the Synergistic Blue fuses it has
Tidal with MQA as well as Soon. The Lumin D-1 plentty of very good reviews and the Linear Tube Audio is the best linear power supply for it under $700 - with upgraded umbilical ford. |
I'm really liking the audio alchemy dac/preamp unit. With the optional power supply it is exceptional and well within your price range. It was also highly recommended in an absolute sound review. |
The Benchmark DAC2 used on A'Gon is a great choice. It maybe just as good as the DAC3, at least that was the opinion of the sales guy at Benchmark. I had the DAC2 updated with the latest upgrade and the sales guy at Benchmark told me not to waste money and buy the DAC3.
The DAC2 has 2 analog inputs (I have 2 tuners) and lot of digital inputs. I think Benchmark were the trail blazers with this type of pre-amp and now there are a lot of competitors with comparable units. The used DAC2 on A'Gon is an amazing deal and highly recommend by me. |
Thanks for the responses. I purchased a used Mytek Brooklyn. I will post my evaluation after I've used it for a bit. |
I have a multi bit DAC that suits my needs for smooth sound. I keep thinking about buying a second DAC to give me a more detailed sharper second option. The MQA and DSD support on the Mytek always sounds attractive. I look forward to hearing about how you like it.
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No love for the Cambridge Audio 851N? It can be run in preamp mode, has balanced outs, etc. |
Audio Research DSPRE can be had for less |
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I use the 851N as a streamer from ripped files, Spotify, and mostly as DAC for my Marantz 8003 CD player. Initially I used it as a preamp and noticed an improvement when I added a Nordost Vishnu Peter cord. When I first got it I had a Nuforce preamp—the851N sounded the same or better without the preamp, so I got rid of it. I used Heimdall II XLR ICs to connect to Bel Canto ref500 monoblocks. Dali Mentor 6 speakers. I’m going to add video so I recently acquired a Marant 8801 prepro, and tried it out as a preamp this week. To my surprise, there was a clear improvement in soundstaging, bass and details. Not crazy better but clearly better. I’m a big fan of the 851n still, but will keep the Marantz as pre.
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