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Tube DACs

For some time I've assumed that tube DACS are meant for direct output to power amps -- in other words, no reason to use a tube DAC if you are running through a tube preamp (unless all components are by same mfr and designed for synergy).

But lately I have seen posts implying some run Brand A tube DAC through brand B tube preamp -- say, Primal Luna 100 to Rogue RP-9. Can't find any prior threads addressing this topic directly.

So, question: am I wrong to suppose that pairing random tube DAC A with random tube preamp B is a bad, or at least a silly idea, absent a known synergy?
 


S

 

hickamore
ghdprentice
6,465 posts
 

I own both tubed DAC and preamp. Definitely a very synergistic combination. In my system especially since both are Audio Research. Absolutely nothing wrong combining different brands.

 

One thing I must comment on is the word “random”. I assume you did not really mean just combining two different brands randomly. But that research into the sound quality of each… and particularly when buying the second is a part of your process.

I definitely do recommend both. Quite honestly when I added my tube DAC… it was astonishing how much more musical and realistic my system got.

 

hickamore OP
588 posts
 

Thanks to all for the informative answers. Somehow I had forgotten those tube DACs having no volume control. So what about pairing tube DAC with SS preamp? (Not that I'm planning any experiments, and if I did, @ghdprentice is correct, they wouldn't really be "random"). 

allanblissett
140 posts
 

If those dac manufacturers didn't expect it to be used directly to amps, they should just leave off the volume controls,  no sense having the signal go through two analog stages, one good and one crappy. 

carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad
1,551 posts
 

The rule is that there is no rule.  

ghasley
2,437 posts
 

@allanblissett every dac has an analog output stage, volume or no volume.

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