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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
mjmch2003
243 posts
 
I have a Bel Canto Dac 2.5 running (most of the time) into a Primaluna Dialogue Premium Preamp.

Running into the Primaluna, my rig sounds more natural, "analogue," and spacious. On occasion when I run direct (like if a tube is shot and I'm waiting for a new one), my system has less layering and things are a bit flatter. However, the sound is extremely clear (maybe a little less midbass is producing this effect?).

Overall, because my system is 100% digital, I prefer it with the tubes in the signal path.

imgoodwithtools
236 posts
 
My answer is that It Depends. I recently got a Berkeley Alpha Reference 2 DAC. I prefer the sound direct DAC to amps when running my Ayre MX-R Twenties. Clearer images with more realistic air and harmonics around them, but its close. With Atma Sphere MA-1 amps, I greatly prefer the sound with an Ayre KX-R Twenty in the chain. More dynamic transients. More drive and pace.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
eniac2690 posts03-16-2017 1:12pmI wouldnt recommend using a Y-Splitter to my worst enemy. Especially in a DAC direct scenario.
Fine, please give a technical reason for not doing so with good quality splitters? as in this case the impedance loading on the source is fine.

Cheers George
tecknik
483 posts
 
I ran the Arye QX 5 Twenty direct to my Accuphase A 65 for several months and thought it sounded outstanding but I knew it needed a preamp, a couple of weeks ago I got the matching Accuphase C 3800 preamp and its a completely different level of audio nirvana. Like a few others have said the preamp is the heart of the system. Don't skip and buy the best preamp you can afford.

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,797 posts
 
I have a NAD M51, it's a great DAC and don't get me wrong, the volume control is best digital volume I've ever encountered.  As great of a source component as it is,  my system is much better all around with a preamp.   Maybe it's an impedance mismatch, but there is no comparison.    
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