Interesting thread. I recently demoed a budget preamp in my system and was surprised by how much more dynamic and alive it sounded compared to using the volume control from my dac. If there was any loss in resolution, I couldn’t hear it, and the improvements were dramatic, so I am now in the market. A couple of questions:
1) how much gain does the raven have, and is it the same balanced and single-minded? I don’t want to have so much gain that the volume control is touchy.
2) I’m currently using single engine connections from my dac to my amp. I’m going to need to buy a new set of interconnects. Any recommendations regarding whether I should stay single ended, run balance connections into the raven and single ended out, or sell my single interconnects and buy two balanced ones. I really like the iconoclast cables I have and they will add to the cost.
Thanks.