MSB vs dCS Bartok

And... I know Jonathan, and Vince Galbo, very well.

As do I, so now then can you ask them, (just don’t tell them your not a fanboy.)
To the options I laid out for the OP to try first, then ask the main one.
"is the output stage of the Premier dac as good to drive a poweramps direct as a preamp such as the Naim."
Or maybe I should just get Jonathan to answer here.

Seriously... what do you expect them to say?
I stand by my statement on the preamp. My experience. One man’s experience. Take it for what’s worth. Or don’t. We can agree to disagree. Cheers

We can agree to disagree.

No, because the OP has not yet tried all the options yet I laid out, to get all cons out of the equation.
Then if you saw, I did say to install the preamp back in as a last resort.

Agree on that. He should definitely give it a chance. Like in more time, and trying additional setting, and modules. Heck, now that I am rereading this, I don’t even know what input module he got

Thanks guys.
I have the “stock” MSB Premier 1x Discrete Power Supply - nothing extra.

I will play around with the settings George, I will even try the TOSLINK input as well. Just to make sure I have exhausted all options. I’ll even try and borrow a quality preamp. I have the Mola Mola Makua in mind.