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First Watt F8, passive preamp, DAC

The F8 is comparable to other First Watt amps in terms of wattage but the gain is only 15db. The Stereophile review says to be wary of using it with a DAC volume control and presumably a passive pre. Can anyone speak from experience? My speakers are Devore, 91db, 8 ohms, and I would like to control the F8 with my DAC. 

rfprice
rfprice OP
150 posts
 

@charles1dad 

Agreed, the F8 isn't going to cut it. Besides, I want an amp that's going to drive the speakers well, not just adequately.

 

How about a Valvet E2/E3? Those are rated only 12w and 21 db gain, and supposedly are very powerful. Still, the 1.4 vrms would be a concern. 

 

I've only had a single opportunity to try the volume output on the DAC. I fed it through the HT bypass on my integrated. The result was poor, both in power and sound quality, but this one test doesn't really prove anything. Still, a DAC as preamp will typically have more noise than a dedicated pre or integrated, right? 

johnk's avatar
johnk
1,976 posts
 

I have owned a good num of First Watt amplifiers I have had great synergy running high output tube preamps with them.

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

@johnk 

Yes, I definitely see the wisdom in that approach.  I heard a loaned Nelson Pass D.I.Y. First Watt S.I.T. Paired with my Coincident Statement Line stage (101D tubes) and it was exceptionally good sounding. I do understand that the goal per topic is however  DAC direct to amplifier.

Charles 

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