PS Audio DAC output

As soon as I posted this I had a thought about your integrated.  Does the “Direct Input” completely bypass the preamp section as your post says, or does it bypass tone controls?  If you don’t know look at your manual, but if you are already using the “Direct Input” and the volume control still functions then you are just bypassing the tone controls.

Hi. The direct input is the shortest path on my integrated, the signal goes to an exclusive volume pot, then straight to the power amp (Yes, I still have volume control!). The whole preamp section is bypassed, even the normal volume pot, cause the pots are not the same.

Dear, Steve.

As a transport, I have two options:

1) An Asus notebook connected to DAC via USB.
2) I also have a Squeezebox Touch, via S/PDIF coax.

Between them, I prefer the notebook via USB. The Squeezebox+S/PDIF sounds a bit lean...

I Only hear redbook files.

What is the make and model of your integrated amp? What happens when you don't bypass the pre--is the sound still "aggressive and fatiguing"?