Is DEQX a game changer?

Both the HDP5 I own and the Premate+ are described as using low noise switching power supplies, and I suspect that the same supply is used in both.  The power supply in the HDP5 is a commercially available sealed unit capable of supplying a maximum output of 30 watts.  Since it is a switching supply and since the power drawn from it is undoubtedly somewhat less than 30 watts I would expect that the unit's AC consumption is not a great deal more than that amount.  Which means that it won't run particularly hot, and will just get a bit warm as I have found with my HDP5.

That said, 0.35 inches of clearance by the vents does sound a little uncomfortable to me.  My guess is you'll be ok over the long term, but I'm unsure.

I have no specific knowledge regarding your second question.

Good luck.  Regards,
-- Al
  

Thanks, Al. A well-reasoned response. I’ve been thinking the same thing. It pencils out alright, but it’s not ideal. I’ll have to keep a watchful eye on the heat during listening sessions and place it somewhere else if it gets to be too much. 

Wanted to thank everyone for their commentary and posts on this piece.  I have one coming, should be here next week.  Looking forward to getting it integrated.

Wondering if any could share their connection setup.  I’ve been attempting to integrate my preamp into the chain, with 0 luck.  I pulled my DAC and inserted the Premate and am not able to get a signal to pass through my preamp.  Sounds/works great without my preamp, connecting my amps directly to the DEQX, but getting the processed signal to pass thru my premamp, no bueno.  It may be something as simple as selecting the correct input, via the DEQX, though I’ve selected “auto” and every input, via the remote.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Todd, if I understand correctly you are supplying the Premate with a digital input, and when you connect the analog "main speaker" outputs of the Premate to your (monoblock?) amplifiers everything works fine. But when you connect the analog "main speaker" outputs of the Premate to analog inputs of your preamp, and connect the preamp’s analog outputs to your amplifiers, you get nothing.

If that is a correct interpretation, the only possibilities I can think of (assuming you are using similar settings of the Premate in the two cases) are that the preamp’s input select switch is not set to the right input, or there is a connection problem, or the preamp has a problem.

In any event, as you alluded to I suspect the cause of this problem will turn out to be something simple.

Wondering if any could share their connection setup.

FWIW, I use my DEQX HDP-5 as my preamp.

Good luck, and enjoy! Regards,
-- Al