MSB Diamond DAC V

@gregm 

Thank you for your input on the select Dac and as we all know not all things play equal together no matter how much money they cost. Not to get off topic on system matching a whole other world of issues of course and a subject that can go on forever and ever with so many variables involved.
Again thank you for your input and my next question is what Dac is that you now have on loan and what is it doing differently in your system?
Lastly my original curiosity was about the MSB Diamond V Dac with Diamond Power Base and renderer. My goal was to eliminate the preamp in the chain and get as much tube like sweetness as I can yet retaining the dynamic swings, bass punch and slam that solid state delivers "Best of Both Worlds" so to speak. 

Thanks again for your input.

blumartini OP
My goal was to eliminate the preamp in the chain and get as much tube like sweetness as I can yet retaining the dynamic swings, bass punch and slam that solid state delivers "Best of Both Worlds" so to speak.

Direct from an MSB R2R using it’s volume control will do exactly that, that’s how mine is run, if the rest of your system is up to it.
But like any source that is very detailed, very dynamic and very transparent, like the MSB range of R2R dacs, if the rest (amp/speakers) are not up to it, then the MSB will show them up.
If your system need taming then you should go to Delta Sigma (dsd) based dacs which are kinder, and not as forcefull with their dynamics, but to me they a bit of a yawn, and don't keep me interested for long. 

Cheers George

@georgehifi
Thank you for getting back to me. I guess its best to zero in a bit. My current system amp is the just Released Plinius A-150 150 wpc class A switchable to A/B and Speakers are Focal Sopra #2. My room size for this setup is 12 wide by 10 deep. My music varies from Acoustic Vocals, Blues, Jaz, Rock, to Contemporary to Electronic Techno. I currently have a NAS ethernet setup playing through P.S Audio Perfectwave Directstream FPGA Dac connected to a P.S. Audio BHK Preamp . My goal was to maximize on the Dac and get rid of the preamp in the chain.
Must admit not too bad all things considered just trying to up the anti since the source is is where it all begins the rest can evolve as it constantly does from time to time. Little stuck as I really want to to do Dac direct to amp and yet have that preaml magic.

My other options where MSB Discrete, DCS Bartok or Lumin X1 as a downstream to the MSB Diamond Dac V solution.

Thanks for you help.

"If your system need taming then you should go to Delta Sigma (dsd) based dacs which are kinder, and not as forcefull with their dynamics, but to me they a bit of a yawn, and don't keep me interested for long. "

This might be your experience with certain DACs but as a generalization is pure nonsense. There are R2R DACs out there that cost few hundred dollars that don't even come close in sound quality to high end well implemented Delta Sigma designs. There is a lot more in the DAC (design) than the digital conversion stage, e.g., power supply, isolation, analog output stage, etc., etc. Keep the focus on what the OP asked not your baseless generalization.

Once you've reached transparency in DACs, your noise floor is ridiculously low which even some inexpensive DACs will do you're paying for features. Some DACs add coloration with tubes, filters etc.. which negates transparency but some people like that nothing wrong with it. If you want to hear what's on the recording then transparency is what you're after and once that is achieved the DAC is one of the less important components in the system. Your speakers will have way more distortion than even inexpensive DACs that are considered transparent. Some R2R DACs will be transparent,  I would assume the MSB is considering the cost but after what gregm said I would ask them for some measurements. Other than That I wouldn't worry to much just get the DAC or Streamer/DAC that has the features you want.