Connecting external preamp to AVR


In a recent forum discussion seeking advice about a new streamer one responder observed money would be wasted if the digital signal was being fed to a home theatre receiver because “[I]ts highly inadequate preamp section will suck most of the goodness out of any good DAC.” Also “[F]eeding that nice, high-end signal into an AVR is like putting crappy tires on a Porsche — it largely defeats/undermines the purpose (and expense) [of upgrading the streamer/DAC components]”.

If the sound quality is being undermined by the preamp section of the AVR I would upgrade to a separate preamp but am unclear about the proper connections.

Currently I input the signal of a Bluesound Node 2i and Topping D90 into a Denon AVR. I use a coax cable from the Bluesound to the DAC (bypassing the internal DAC of the Bluesound) and RCA interconnects from the DAC to a selected input on the AVR.

In the chain referred to above it was stated “Since your Denon has preouts, all you’d need to do is connect the front L/R preouts from the Denon to an input of your choice (or HT Bypass if it has one) on the stereo preamp and that’s pretty much it. Choose that input on the stereo pre when you’re doing HT and another input when listening to streamer, CD player, etc. That’s really all there is to it, and the AVR will be completely out of the signal path when listening in 2-channel."

The preamp I have chosen does have a bypass so that part it clear—L & R front preouts from the AVR to the bypass RCA inputs of the preamp. But then what? The latter quote above suggests to me the DAC outputs must be connected to the preamp and not remain connected directly to the AVR. Rather than make that assumption any guidance would be appreciated.


sadbird