My strategy is a bit different, and I have attained audio nirvana I would argue. No personal attack here, just different.
1) go for the most jitter immune, cleanest, lowest distortion and highest SNR DAC available. This would obviously be a new DAC within the last year or two. It might be too lean and analytical for the desired goal of “musicality” and engagement tie tapping but you start with the bare truth and a reference signal.
I am almost never impressed with the quality of the master clocks inside DACs. They are almost never good enough. This includes power delivery and associated dividers and buffers/selectors etc..
I would much prefer to sell to a customer that has a DAC with NO reclocking or jitter reduction, at least on the S/PDIF coax inputs.
2) Get the most resolving SS power amp - Benchmark ABH2 looks impressive. Again the power amp should be powerful and transparent - a Bryston, Pass Labs, Krell - there are plenty of choices.
I would pick Wells Audio, Merrill Audio, D’agostino or get a good SET tube amp. I have been auditioning amps at shows for 20 years, as well as speakers.
3) Roll preamps and roll preamp tubes until you find the desired sound
I would eliminate the active preamp and drive direct from the DAC or use a passive transformer linestage. Preamps are the worst offenders for coloring/distorting sound quality. Just get rid of them unless they are $10K+ tube preamps.
I do agree on tube rolling. Critical step. Be prepared to spend some time and money and resell the rejects on ebay.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio
