First Watt F8, passive preamp, DAC

OK, the F8 isn't going to work. How about the J2 with 20 db gain? Do you think 20 db is sufficient?  don't want to get a preamp. My new mission is consolidation. I may need to either stick with integrateds or find speakers with higher efficiency. Frankly, the Super 9s are too big for my room anyway. 

The J2 would be a better option because it has balanced inputs, and if you run balanced interconnects from your DS DAC you will double the output voltage to 2.8V.

As another data point, I ran my Pass Labs DAC (about 1.8V max output unbalanced) into my SIT-2 (18db gain) into 94db efficent speakers with no gain issues whatsoever.  

As I type I am running the same DAC with the volume at about 1:00 (so roughly 1.0V output?) into my preamp at 14db gain into the SIT-3 with 11.5 db of gain.  1V output with 25.5db of gain is plenty on my 94db speakers.  I typically listen around 83-84db average, so pretty loud.

Personally I’d go with an integrated as needing a DAC with a good volume control will reduce your DAC choices quite a bit.  Just my $0.02 FWIW.  Best of luck. 

As I type I am running the same DAC with the volume at about 1:00 (so roughly 1.0V output?) into my preamp at 14db gain into the SIT-3 with 11.5 db of gain.  1V output with 25.5db of gain is plenty on my 94db speakers.  I typically listen around 83-84db average, so pretty loud.

The OP's scenario could "possibly" work BUT...

System gain is still 10 db less than yours. Not insignificant.

DAC voltage is 1.44 vs 1.8.

His speakers are 3 db less sensitivity than your 94 db.

Perhaps cutting it a bit close it seems.

Charles