DCS Bartok as Preamp

Hi I was wondering what your thoughts were with and without the C2600 using Bartok as a pre?

I have been running my Bartok into the C22 then into the MC462.

It sounds really good but I will eventually try the Bartok as a pre.

Let us know what you think. I’m interested in this unit, as I generally quite like DAC to amp...but I’d have to sell my nice preamp to afford the Bartok and that’d be a risky move. 

I ended up making a system change.  I trade in my Bartok and got a killer deal on a Lumin X1.  The I added 2 Lumin M1s to replace my sonos zones. Now I have a great 3 zone HiRes system.

I think the Lumin X1 sounds more analog that the Bartok and a multizone DCS system would have been way to expensive.

I am still running the X1 through the C22 and into the MC462.

I also added a Lunim T2 to a MA6500 in my vacation home and am very happy.

Mcintosh and Lumin seem to be a very good combo!

Does the Bartók feature a variable volume out for connecting to monoblocks that don't have a volume control?

@efoo Have you compared the T2 directly to the X1, and if so how would you describe the differences?

I have an X1 which is the best DAC I have owned, but curious how close the T2 comes.