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Any comments on DAC directly to Power amp with no

Do you have any comments of running a DAC directly to power amplifier with no preamp? I can think of several advantages to not using a preamp but would really like your opinion, since, it seems, many of us are opting to go direct these days.

For example, let us assume the DAC goes straight into the power amp's XLR inputs; the DAC's volume control is digital, runs in 32 bits (or 24bits) and is very well implemented.

I have been told that some users do not like the idea of running a volume control well down in its range so use fixed attenuators but many have reported a loss of SQ in the process. Others have stated that they prefer the sound through a preamp stage. And, as expected, others state the sound quality is improved when the preamp is eliminated.

I hope to test these options, with and without the pre-amp, shortly and am interested in hearing about your experiences.

Any comments on this would be appreciated.
hgeifman
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Fully balanced components usually list 2 sets of specs.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
08-19-15: Zd542
Fully balanced components usually list 2 sets of specs.
Zd542


That can also be misleading, as if they used an opamp for the balanced input or output of source or poweramp it's very possible that it's not a unity gain stable opamp, so they had to give it some gain to make it stable, which would give different specs as you say.

I've seen it all too many times. A typical example of this is my cd player which has both single ended and balanced outputs, the extra opamp they used for the balanced had gain compared to the single ended output, which bypasses the balanced opamp, therefore one less opamp in the signal path from the single ended output.

Same went for a very well known famous high end poweramp $$$$K which I was repairing, the input went though an opamp first for the balanced which had gain because it also was not unity gain stable, and the single ended input was after the opamp. I laugh to myself when owners say the balanced sound better than the single ended on this amp, I don't have the heart to tell them because they were told by someone to use it that way for better sound.

So the safe bet for the best sound is always use the single ended inputs, unless you run 10mts of interconnect then balance connection will only have an advantage in noise/hum not sound quality.

Cheers George
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Good points George! I can't see the Opamp solution being ideal for sound quality. A genuine differential balanced circuit would seem a better choice if someone is seeking true balance components. Still not a sure guarantee it will necessarily sound better than a well implemented single end circuit.
Charles,
devilboy
1,176 posts
 
The Nuprime Dac-10 might be nice. I say this because I'm using the phenomenal IDA-16 integrated and LOVE it, not because of the new review out in Absolute Sound that my buddy told me about. I haven't read it as I've stopped getting the audio rags years ago. They're all rubbish.
coli
291 posts
 
I'll be trying a fixed attenuator so I'll find out.
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