Tube DAC with solid state pre and solid state amp

As you are looking to use a Tube DAC, especially one that may end up Bespoke Design as a result on modifications to be considered, I will share my experiences had with a DAC I own.

I have travelled quite a bit with my owned Bespoke Built Tube DAC, which has also undergone a process of Tube Rolling, where Vintage Valves are the selected option.

This DAC has been introduced to systems I know very well and systems new to myself.

It has also be used on one system that has a retail cost of very close to £200K.

During these outings with the DAC, it has been used at a Digital Bake Off, where other CDP's and DAC > CDP's have been present, as well as CDP's that can have their DAC's used to couple to other devices.

On one occasion at a Group Session where Phonostages and Vinyl was the main interest on the agenda, and all demo's were done using the very expensive system. Towards the end of the session I got a slot to use the DAC, which was a revelation to the attendees, some thought it surpassed many of the earlier Vinyl Demo's.

In my system, the DAC is used solely with Valve Power Amplification, but other designs are available for a Pre Amp.

In some of the other Systems it has been added to, it has been used with Valve Integrated and Valve Power Amps, with a variety of Pre's, as well as SS Integrated and SS Pre > Power.

On the expensive system referred to the Amplification is Pre > Power from Soulution @ £60Kish.

At no time has this DAC let itself be shown a clean set of heals by other options being demo'd, of which some models are the ones many speak of as the go to choices for a DAC. On occasion when a group of listeners are present for the demo's, the Bespoke Built Valve DAC has received very good appraisal. 

I don't see any reason for being concerned about the use of a Valve DAC with any Amplification.

I have limited experience of Valve DACs so can't suggest that all models are able to create a very attractive impression.    

@rallais , what info do you seek exactly? Plenty of people use tube DACs with solid state amplification, myself included. 

I'm thinking to get Lab 12 Reference DAC (tube) to pair with Solid State Amplifier (Yamaha A-S1200) to drive Dali Rubicon 2. Would it be appropriate ? Kindly advise. 

Using a Boulder 1060 amp with a Pass XP-20. Going to sell the Pass and get a Boulder pre. The 2010 runs circles around the 1010 but those circles are $$$. Oppo 105 as source. Might have it modded to remove the need for a DAC? I have never used a DAC but I am leaning toward an Audio Note 3.1 kit heavily modded by Ben at High End Audio Repair.

The EE DAC can output both tube or SS, so it is possible to compare the two with SS amplification. I prefer the tubed output and have experimented with several different tubes. No one can really say what your system would sound like. It works.......for me.

Actually, isnt the request of the OP to peple who have TUBE Dacs and SS amplification?

Its not about tube vs SS Dacs or tube vs opamps in the same Dac.

Hi Pgawan2b

I too have the EE Minimax DAC and I run it through the tube output stage. In my system when I switch to the Minimax to the solid state DAC the gain is a little less and the mids seem more dull sounding. My preference is for the tube DAC output. I haven't tried the Solid State option without the tube as removing the tube from the EE is a pain in the but for me. That and I bought it because I wanted a Tube DAC and it fit my budget.

Yes, Lampizator tube Dacs with a rowen modded NAD c375 BEE SS integrated.

I preferred this to my demo with a PrimaLuna dialog 2 tube integrated. Tighter bass, yet with equally sweet mids and highs.

To answer your question directly, no. If I were going to throw tubes in to the mix, I think I'd do it the other way around: a tube pre and keep the DAC SS.

Tgrisham, I'm assuming you run the EE minimax through the tube output stage. What effect does it have on your system when you switch the tube output stage off and go SS instead? The reason I ask is because I've read where some prefer the SS in the DAC over the tube. If I remember correctly, speed in the base was an attribute to the SS that was preferred over the tube.

Likewise I have the EE minimax DAC with Wyred4sound monoblocks and a Modwright pre-amp. Its all about synergy between components. One compensates for another since there are no absolutes. your room, your ears, your gear. My Modwright pre-amp has subtle tube overtones but is not very "tubey" with the tubes I have in it. Too many of one thing is bad, but just the right amount...... You will have to experiment yourself.

I'm using a Tri-Vista 21 with a Wyred 4 Sound Mpre and Mamps . Very happy.

Yes. I have Rallais. I use an Eastern Electric Minimax DAC with a Kavent S33 solid state preamp and a pair of Red Dragon M1000 solid state monoblock amps during the summer. This set-up finally made Class D amps very very enjoyable in my system. Got great bass in my system and vocals that weren't dull.

What tube DAC and other gear do you have in your system? What gear are you looking at?