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Any comments on DAC going direct to power amplifier or to pre-ampliifer?

My local retailer HIGHLY RECOMMENDS the use of a pre-amplifier.  Bricasti believes that going direct to a power amplifier sounds better.  And, I also know that everyone had a "different opinion" about going direct or using a pre-amplifier.  

I am running my Bricast1 M1 SE DAC direct to my Hypex NCore NC400 Bridged Mono Block class D power amplifiers (no pre-amplifier) and like the sound quality very much.   

For me, the sound is more natural and clearer by going direct to a power amplifier. Of course, I think the M1 SE DAC has special “custom" circuits in the analog section to make it sound so good. I returned home and listened to my system.  It sounds terrific and I continue to enjoy and recommend the Bricasti M1 SE DAC.

Please note that we removed the R141 (circuit) from my Hypex NCore NC400 bridged mono blocks, thus lowering amplifier gain by 14 dB, requiring 14 dB higher M1 volume setting for same playback level.  Bricasti says the goal is to have the M1 CLOSE to 0db front panel attenuation.  If you reduce the volume on the M1 SE DAC, you cause more bit reduction meaning you lose sound quality.   We discussed this modification with Hypex and they approved the removal of the R141 circuit.  They suggested we be very careful removing the 4 R141 chips (for my 4 NC400 amplifiers) to avoid board damage.  

I noticed that many of the newer DAC’s (even the new Ayre QX-5 Twenty DAC and many others) have volume controls meaning their DAC/Pre-amplifiers are designed to go direct to a power amplifier (as an option, of course).  

What are your experiences of going direct to a power amplifier or using a pre-amplifier?  Have you compared going direct vs. going to a pre-amplfier and noticed any sound quality differences?  Have you gotten different results from using different DAC's and amplifiers?   Your comments are appreciated.  Thanks.





hgeifman
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 

Hello Cerrot!


My own experience points to DAC+pre vs DAC alone is a question which can have multiple valid answers.... I also used the Rowland Criterion, fed by the Rowland Aeris DAC. Amps were, and still are, the Rowland M925 monoblocks.


I must say that I like both presentations:


Criterion+Aeris yielded a subtly warmer and intimate presentation, versus Aeris by itself being slightly more revealing and linear.


Ultimately, what made me decide to withdraw Criterion from the chain was a simple matter of economics: As I have a single source -- my Esoteric X-01 used as a transport -- I could no longer justify the presence of Criterion.


This does not mean however that I will be pre-less forever....


I have heard that the new Rowland Power Storage Unit which can replace the power supplies of Aeris and of Corus adds so much to the system that one of these days I might very well add the Rowland Corus pre, and feed both Aeris and Corus with the PSU ultra-caps based power supply.....


Oops... I forgot that I am married.... The wifie will likely shoot down any of my pindaric dreams of audiophilic grandeur *Sighs!*

  




jon2020's avatar
jon2020
986 posts
 
The wifie will likely shoot down any of my pindaric dreams of audiophilic grandeur *Sighs!* 


Hello Guido,
Good to hear from you again although I am a bit saddened by your predicament at home even as I think you may have said it tongue-in-cheek.
Be that as it may, you may achieve some success with wifie by treating her to a large screen high-end TV and as she gets hooked to her cable while remaining forever thankful to you for your good taste, it would then be very unlikely for her to notice any change to your audio.
This worked very well for me!

Good luck and best wishes for the New Year!
J. :)
zomble
9 posts
 
I am in the same boat. I bought an obscure pre and power hoping to go back to vinyl. Unfortunately all the music I listen to is digital. The Mirror Image Audio pre and power are beautifully built and tons of power for my needs. I have a RAKK DAC with a pre out using 6h30's. When I max out the volume on the Rakk I barely turn up the volume. It would make sense to go to a lower power amp and run balanced from the dac to the amp.. But I am noticing the bass has more impact running through the pre.
richfield_hunter
68 posts
 
I have the same Bricasti M1SE as you do and have tried direct and through a preamp. My preamp is the Audio Research Reference 10 which is a no contest in my system the Preamp in the chain makes it much better. Better dynamics more realistic sound stage better spacial qualities to the music. I have tried other DAC's as well as other preamps and in my room a preamp is always better. 
eniac26
97 posts
 
I also prefer a PreAmp in the chain verses DAC direct BUT with that said and speaking about Briscasti specifically, I have a hunch the new M12 would change my mind about DAC direct. Though, at that point it would only be a kinda DAC direct setup : )

I'm saving my pennies for the M12 as the component to take to my grave. I mean, you gotta make a choice and get off this audiophile train at some point otherwise before you know it you will be retired and have nothing but a bad a$$ system to show for it. Who needs food!
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