@veerossi out of curiosity which preamp are you expecting?
I'm in the opposite situation as you, I have preamps (tube and SS) but no DAC with volume control.
DAC DIRECT IN TO AMPLIFIER OR TO PREAMPLIFIER
For the longest time, I believed that the best preamplifier is no preamplifier. Eliminating a component from the audio chain would yield less distortion & greater purity.
Recently, I have had reason to re-think my logic on the matter - and I am (I think) changing my mind. Better said, assuming that the preamplifier in the component you are using (in my case, a DAC) can produce 95% or greater quality sound compared to the preamplifier component, then no preamplifier is the best option. The 5% represents the (estimated) loss of fidelity in adding another set of interconnects.
That said, most DACs do not have an outstanding preamplifier built in. I think most have average passive attenuators, and the better DACs have active preamplifiers that are very good - but not as good as a quality preamplifier.
What are your thoughts?
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I would throw out another option. DAC/preamp into control amplifier. I have Naim Unit Atom Headphone edition DAC/streamer/preamp paired with AVA SET 120 control amplifier (integrated without active pre). Volume control from the Naim remote. This is a truly great pairing. I’m not sure whether the preamp is activated, but sublime regardless. I have paired with Vandersteen VLR CT speakers in den system, along with Bryston CD-1 player. |
@lak Im waiting for an Atma-Sphere MP-3 preamp. 😁 |
Great conversations and recommendations. I am in all of your debt!! I called and spoke with the manufacturers at Berkeley DAC and Aesthetix. Berkeley's Technical director thought though direct in would be just fine and nothing would be lost in the signal. Aesthetix manufacturer though that the loss of fidelity in adding additional cables would be less than a percentage or two. All things being equal (As far as input output ratios Etc.) The key would be the quality of the preamplifier in the DAC versus the quality of the preamplifier...very close to my current hypothesis. Now to test out the theory...I will let you all know the result. My assumption is that the Aesthetix Calypso is a superior preamp - and therefore should yield superior sound. We will see :) |
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