2. digital
  3. 1346908013

pre-amp vs dac straight to amps

i have a old (but nice) audio reseach ls-8 going into a ps audio dac III with full cullen upgrades. pre=amp is getting long in tooth and wondering, replace? my whole catalog of over 1500 cd's are now all flac files out of a pc. does the pre-amp add anything ( i thought tubes soften?) so.....

buy a new pre-amp or go straight from dac to amps (yes i know will need something to control volume). thanks very much
mlapenta
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Greater than 10dB degadation is only with software controlled volume.

Often digital volume circuits in DACs are actually digitally controlled analog circuits. There are many off-the-shelf chips that do this.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
mateored
258 posts
 
I'm running my Wadia 121 DAC direct into a Bel Canto amp and it sounds great. Granted, the only preamp I tried in this system was a Rotel RC 995, so I can't comment on how it would sound with a seriously high-end preamp. I do know that Wadia makes a big pitch in the manual not to use a preamp. I posted the exact language in another thread. As always, YMMV.
w3ux
19 posts
 
I'm using my DB audiolab Tranquility DAC direct into my tube power amp. Using the dithering control in pure music serves as volume control. I haven't put my Quicksilver preamp back in my system. Works great.
mlapenta OP
72 posts
 
anyone try this channel island VPC-3 Passive controller for volume out of DAC? I am concerned that going from a DAC to class D amps (also Channel Islands) will sound to digital? I had liked to believe my tube pre-amp was warming sound?
mlapenta OP
72 posts
 
ok, i tried a/b on pre-amp vs direct. I was kinda stunned at the sound direct from DAC to amps. It was so big and in your face, lots of bass punch and overall more "impact" I was glad to hear that human voices did not suffer in this.

However, I do feel there was a slight loss of detail and smoothness in upper mid range so.... still preplexed on which way to commit. new per-amp or passive pre-amp.
More to discover