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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
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Maybe it’s an impedance mismatch, but there is no comparison.
"Bit stripping" (loss of resolution) is the problem, if your not using it’s volume at or above 75% of full.

With the Bricasti you can adjust it’s final gain, so it’s volume control is used at or above 75% for your/any system, as this owner found using B&W 800 Diamond mkII, and preferred it direct to many expensive tube and S/S preamps that he tried.

Cheers George
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
985 posts
 

To all those in this thread who hear a significant improvement in the overall sound of their systems with an active analog preamp in the chain(myself included), it's good to know that we have let our own ears decide, theory notwithstanding.

Happy listening!

J. :)
ami's avatar
ami
63 posts
 
My 5 cents:
In my setup I have a PS Audio DS going direct to a low power SET tube amp.
No bit stripping with this DAC, although I often listen at >90% anyway.
Tried several high end preamps, active / passive and everything in between, 3, 4 and 5 $ figure units, at best they were close to the direct. Never better or even equal.
If your system sounds better with a preamp, start looking for the weak link.
For the price of your preamp, upgrade the weak link. Impedance matching is critical.
PS Audio DACs have extremely low output impedance, perfect for direct :-)
Look for amps that have high input impedance.
you won’t look back ... ever...

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
+1  ami

Cheers George
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
985 posts
 
Interesting.

Most who have heard the PS Audio DirectStream via the BHK preamp to power amp(preamp is about 6k), agree that this combo sounds better than direct to power amp.

http://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2016/6/18/ps-audio-bhk-preamplifier

So, should the DS as a source then be upgraded or should the amps?

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