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Will DAC always sound better going straight into a Power Amplifier?

Hi All,

I experimented today with plugging my Khadas Tone Board DAC straight into a Power Amp, and then using a vintage restored Yamaha solid state preamp in the chain...and the sound seemed to be clearer without the preamp.

Is this always the case, where a DAC will sound better directly connected to a power amp?

I see some expensive DAC offerings, like the Musetec 005 and the Holo Audio May, and was wondering that if i want to save up for one of them...if i have to save up for a preamp as well.

If it will cloud the sound, then i'll leave the preamp out of the mix.  Let me know your thoughts all!

I've read that some people have had experiences where the DAC sounds better through a preamp, so I'm not sure if there is a universal answer here or not.

fai_v
willgolf
945 posts
 

@charles1dad ---and when I get my new Lampi Horizon it is even better, which has already been proven in A/B comparisons.

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
4,195 posts
 

I think once you have a truly great preamp, there's no going back to passive volume.   I will prove this out soon with my amp I'm having built .   It has two inputs, so I can A/B  a preamp vs DAC direct.   I seriously doubt my DAC driving the amp will sound better than my Zesto Leto.   That is one awesome preamp, incredible sounding piece.   

larsman's avatar
larsman
2,433 posts
 

The word 'always' is often good to avoid, but from my experience, it ain't necessarily so. I had an MSB 'Analog DAC'/volume control going directly into my MSB power amp and the sound was superb. I later got a Herron Audio tube preamp and put that in between the DAC and the power amp, and the sound improved considerably from that....

fredfung2021's avatar
fredfung2021
17 posts
 

i have recently been comparing dac thru passive resistor vol control/ thru cj preamp and vintage recapped rotel rc03. it sounds fast thru passive, but compared with thru rotel it sounds thin and the dac direct also seems to lack something

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

@larsman 

The word ’always’ is often good to avoid, but from my experience, it ain’t necessarily so. I had an MSB ’Analog DAC’/volume control going directly into my MSB power amp and the sound was superb. I later got a Herron Audio tube preamp and put that in between the DAC and the power amp, and the sound improved considerably from that.

Yes, words such as “always”, “never “ and “best” are rarely applicable in audio topic discussions. Far too many variables exist to make those terms meaningful. I would just say that based on my listening and observations that a “high” quality preamplifier more often than not contributes to improved sound quality.

In a situation such as @willgolf’s I can see this as an exception to my generally speaking scenarios. The Lampizator Horizon exceeding the Pacific DAC is quite the accomplishment. Congratulations @willgolf .

Charles

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