Cmk,
"Ok, I've done the RCA and AES/EBU route for comparison...and the winner is [drum roll]..."
One of these is an analog connection and one is a digital connect. I don't understand what you are doing?
I was under the impression that you were asking if it is better to have a DAC (w/volume control) connected directly to an amp or through a pre-amp. In this scenario you would be using analog outputs from the DAC in both configurations.
TIC
"Ok, I've done the RCA and AES/EBU route for comparison...and the winner is [drum roll]..."
One of these is an analog connection and one is a digital connect. I don't understand what you are doing?
I was under the impression that you were asking if it is better to have a DAC (w/volume control) connected directly to an amp or through a pre-amp. In this scenario you would be using analog outputs from the DAC in both configurations.
TIC