If I just use a DAC, do I need a Pre-amp?

As noted above, some DAC’s volume control cut the bits at lower volumes. If your DAC does this, you definitely NEED a pre-amp.   If your DAC has a ’high quality’ analog based volume control, it might sound great going direct to your power amplifier, OR maybe not.

There are no absolutes and that means you have to schedule a test using your equipment, and YOUR EARS, to decide if a pre-amp is, or is not needed. Based on my experience (my ears), I decided to use a pre-amp for the best sound quality.

Some DAC’s have excellent high quality analog based volume controls and others do not. As was also stated above, the only way you are going to know is to test the configuration by going direct from your DAC to a power amplifier and then the DAC direct to a per-amp. In other words, you have to hear how it sounds and then decide what sounds best to you. Unfortunately, it seems, there are many different opinions on this topic (some yes and some no).

The first thing to do is rid your signal chain of all processors, filters and "mini eq, etc. Then and only then can you worry about things like preamps.

And I would forgo the Fisher for something more modern (and better!)

Oz

davidgwillett
I have the opportunity to get a nice Fisher 400CX-2...but why?

 Going direct is the most transparent/dynamic/uncolored way of listening to your source.
Only if you find the need to "color" the sound of your source do you need an expensive active preamp, but you will take a hit on the above for that coloration.
It makes better sense to change the source to get what’s wanted/needed instead.

Classic saying: Ivor Tiefenbrun (Linn LP12 TT inventor)
"It all starts at the source, get that right and you half the way home"

Cheers George

I am buying a DAC with a volume control in July, the AudioByte Vox setup. One of the pieces in that 3 unit stack is not yet available. After many years of using a DAC direct and also with a BAT VK-42SE preamp. I found the addition of the preamp beneficial.

Yesterday, I bought the Benchmark HPA4 preamp + headphone amp to connect to my future DAC. Not sure if this is to be believed but some reviewers were stating that the addition of this preamp made the DAC sound even quieter than direct DAC to amp. I shall see when this unit arrives in a few weeks.

Preamps are for volume controls and switching between source.

Some add things like filters, tone controls or extra gain for phono sources. 

Preamps typically introduce a particular sound of their own. Some might like to use a preamp for that alone


If you don’t need any of this things you are good to go.