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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
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
Benchmark put a lot of design time into the ganged pots on their DAC - some info on their web site.

another issue is you can run the analog output of a SS DAC thru a pre-amp to "tube-ify" the sound
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
988 posts
 
I really don't see any point in continuing this endless debate that has been raging since time immemorial.
Simply trust your own ears and cast aside all theory, dogma, aspersions, etc as to which should be right or wrong. As has been said ad nauseam previously here and elsewhere, there is no right or wrong answer.
Let your own ears decide for you whether you should get or not get a preamp(active/passive, tube/ss, etc/etc) in your system for maximum musical pleasure. 
Life is really that simple.

Enjoy the music!
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Let your own ears decide for you whether you should get or not get a preamp(active/passive, tube/ss, etc/etc) in your system for maximum musical pleasure.
Life is really that simple.
Yes get a Schiit Freya (active/passive, tube/ss, etc/etc) with remote which has a superb relay controled volume control, balanced or SE, and you can have it all, so you can see for yourself what suits. Compared to direct connection.
And you can send the Schiit back, if you think the direct connection wins out.
http://schiit.com/products/freya

It’s that easy!!!

Cheers George

jon2020's avatar
jon2020
988 posts
 
Yes get a Schiit Freya (active/passive, tube/ss, etc/etc) with remote which has a superb relay controled volume control, balanced or SE, and you can have it all, so you can see for yourself what suits. Compared to direct connection.
And you can send the Schiit back, if you think the direct connection wins out.http://schiit.com/products/freya 

Great suggestion by @georgehifi.

The Schitt Freya sounds like a truly amazing product for $699 with a return policy to boot. Anyone in the market for a preamp should most certainly give it a home audition. There seems to be nothing at all to lose here.

I wish more companies would come out with such a preamp with all these selectable options at various price points to suit different systems.
lancelock
1,094 posts
 
I have a new Modwright Oppo Sonica and with its beautiful sounding tube output stage it's a giant killer, dynamic, warm and detailed. I seem to prefer it to my DS DAC at the moment. There is a new firmware update coming from PS audio so I will compare again. No preamp needed.
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