Will DAC always sound better going straight into a Power Amplifier?

@larsman 

The word ’always’ is often good to avoid, but from my experience, it ain’t necessarily so. I had an MSB ’Analog DAC’/volume control going directly into my MSB power amp and the sound was superb. I later got a Herron Audio tube preamp and put that in between the DAC and the power amp, and the sound improved considerably from that.

Yes, words such as “always”, “never “ and “best” are rarely applicable in audio topic discussions. Far too many variables exist to make those terms meaningful. I would just say that based on my listening and observations that a “high” quality preamplifier more often than not contributes to improved sound quality.

In a situation such as @willgolf’s I can see this as an exception to my generally speaking scenarios. The Lampizator Horizon exceeding the Pacific DAC is quite the accomplishment. Congratulations @willgolf .

Charles

It seems that the Lampizator Pacific has an onboard preamplifier section. It has DHT tubes providing high voltage via the analog output stage and has a DHT tube cathode follower. so running through a separate preamp is essentially "double" preamps in the signal chain. This type of DAC design could go directly to the power amplifier.Not every DAC has this type of an analog output stage.

Charles

I like the above post that says " I will keep the magic with my preamp

+1

In my opinion a high quality preamplifier is paramount to achieving the very best sound /music reproduction from an audio system . Emphasis on "quality "