Add a pre-amp to Mola Mola Tambaqui?

Try a Benchmark LA4 for a 30-day home trial, I was all in on getting the Makua about 6 years ago. Then looked at the descriptions of both the LA4 and Makua and thought the LA4 maybe a cheaper version of the Makua. I am not even curious about the Makua now.

The Leedh volume control on the Lumin X1 (owned it) was almost as good as the volume on the LA4 preamp. The areas where it was not as good was really not that important in real usage (very low volume).

The Lumin X1 is the only DAC that I think the volume control was similar to a preamp. ALL digital DAC volume controls I owned, except the X1, were lacking to my ears. Just lower the volume and listen.

BTW - I owned the KRELL DUO 175XD and loved it with the LA4 preamp. I was also planning on buying the KEF Blade but did not think it could survive in my home. Another preamp to consider that is similar to the LA4 is the Holo Serene.

BTW2 - Since you were mentioning using a tube preamp in front of the KRELL DUO 300XD. Something I would not do, too warm. I would look at a preamp such as the CODA 07x or Schitt Mjolnir to warm things up. Still too warm for me but I think a better choice than tubes. That Mjolnir is a beauty for $1100. I use it with headphones. Sold the 07x.

I have owned a Tambaqui and at the same time had a customer consign a Makua with the DAC built in. Unless you are dead set on conserving space, I would opt for a separate preamp and use the full Tambaqui unit. While the preamp is very clean, it did not offer good harmonics, and its effect on the Sonics left it a bit dry and processed sounding compared to many other preamps I’ve tried. 

I’ve also posted in other threads about DACs and their analog stages and have mentioned that after testing, I would never run a Tambaqui direct to amp. Its built in volume control is abysmal for a $14K unit. You will absolutely gain much (pun intended) by adding a quality preamp to the chain. 

Honestly, a wonderful and affordable tube preamp that would pair with the Tambaqui and has a small form factor is the Audio Mirror Linea. It is barebones but at $3K better sounding that Vinnie Rossi solutions that cost over $10K. 

thanks very much for all the feedback. I am now looking at these recommendations.

The reason I am leaning toward a warmer preamp is because I use a pair of stealth audio silver speaker cables that use helium vacuum dielectric. The dielectric constant is close to 1.0... So in terms of speed, these are as fast sounding as they get. They are a good match with the blades as it amplifies all the strengths of the speakers. lots of subjective "air" from the cables combined with the uni-q design of the blades already gives an ultra detailed, transparent, and holographic presentation

So I’m very much worried about a clinical sound signature. I dont want something that would spoil the sound I’m getting and be dry

I can very much afford something more analog sounding as I’m sure the presentation will still be ultra detailed

One of the main attractions to the Tambaqui to me is that it doesnt sound very digital.

It’s all about system matching

also, and i dont know if this is allowed on the forums, I dont know ultimately where to buy the tambaqui. The only online seller I can see is the music room. I would prefer to buy direct from a dealer. I live in Illinois if that helps. thanks