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

Hi All,

I experimented today with plugging my Khadas Tone Board DAC straight into a Power Amp, and then using a vintage restored Yamaha solid state preamp in the chain...and the sound seemed to be clearer without the preamp.

Is this always the case, where a DAC will sound better directly connected to a power amp?

I see some expensive DAC offerings, like the Musetec 005 and the Holo Audio May, and was wondering that if i want to save up for one of them...if i have to save up for a preamp as well.

If it will cloud the sound, then i'll leave the preamp out of the mix.  Let me know your thoughts all!

I've read that some people have had experiences where the DAC sounds better through a preamp, so I'm not sure if there is a universal answer here or not.

fai_v

Showing 3 responses by lordmelton

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
892 posts
 

@fai_v Hi, You can use the Musetec 005 without a pre-amp because it has a built in volume control which doesn't take much away. However a good pre-amp will give you a bigger, wider, deeper soundstage.

I prefer SS amps and pre-amps because they don't distort the sound but good SS is usually more expensive than valve equipment.

Usual suspects are Nelson Pass designs (Threshold, Pass etc.), Mark Levinson (but the power cable is underneath), Spectral (glorious but expensive), Conrad Johnson (SS and Valve).

I use SMC but they are hard to find.

Many more but these are among the best.

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
892 posts
 

 

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
892 posts
 

@majorc 0.0 gain or 0.0 db means the DAC is connected straight to your pre-amp or power amp and is not interrupting or changing the voltage from your source.

-db means the gain has been reduced and +db the gain has increased which will decrease or increase the volume by a such a multiple.

Your Ifi DAC probably has a digital volume control but don't sweat it. Only in a more revealing system would it show wanting. It probably sounds fine.

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