Discrete R2R Ladder dac from Soekris, Absolute Sounds review.

Okay, I think the affair is over with the Soekris direct into the amp .

This is how it starts, you’ll be back, maybe not tomorrow looking for things you mentioned by going direct that are now missing with the pre in.

More detail
More contrast between highest and lowest notes
More ambient information - deeper soundstage, maybe?

I’d add to those maybe also bass definition and depth.

Same happened to me. It just a matter of fine tuning when going direct, like you spent with the tube pre in, not just over night tune, probably months?

Cheers George

You may be right, I will give it more time!

George,

Not to drive you nuts but I have questions that reflect my ignorance and would appreciate your further explanation:

The Soekris DAC digital volume control specification is -90 dbl to +10 dbl. It also says the line outout is 2 volts. 

In the Control volume with DAC or Preamp? you commented "...Unless there’s some problem, the lowest noise is always achieved if you use all or most of what the source has to offer..." So is that at 0 on the DAC volume control or somewhere else? Or does it not matter?

If I am hell bent on hearing some "tube magic" with a solid state amp, I need to use a tube preamp. In that case, where should I set the volume on the DAC? Is it the same answer as above?

I am switching back and forth with the preamp in or out of my system and want to maximze the best quality signal from the DAC with the preamp in to give the best comparison.

Or does this just get down to what I think sounds the best?

Thanks for listening,

Dsper

If I am hell bent on hearing some "tube magic" with a solid state amp, I need to use a tube preamp. In that case, where should I set the volume on the DAC? Is it the same answer as above?

At least 70% or more so your sure it's not "bit striping"
If your hell bent on tube sound, use a tube pre with little or no gain. A Schiit Saga+ is tube and 1 x tube gain, and can also be used as a passive pre as well. 
https://www.schiit.com/products/saga-2

Cheers George

Okay, 

After rereading the manual, I found that there is a "Clip" light that must not show red so you turn down the volume until the red light does not flash.

Ends up at plus 2 for me.