DAC/Pre-Amp Advice

I’m gonna reiterate — focus on the DAC, two subs, and speaker positioning first and then worry about room correction after that.  You’re trying to do too much at once IMHO. 

@soix @toro3 

I'm going to just go DAC and subs. The preamp before the integrated probably is not a road I will go down, as there could be a lot of negative aspects. 

Thank you all for you help on this. I've boiled it down to the 3-4 DAC's all mentioned in here, and I'll update this thread when I pull the trigger on one.

Chuck, best of luck and let us know once you order!

I’ve never tried 2 subs, so I don’t know what I’m missing, but adding one sub really helped, and my floorstanders do pretty good bass.  I listen to Classical and there are so many low level percussion effects that many composers use that one could appreciate in a concert and now I can approximate at home.  I would start with one sub and see how it goes.  You can always add a second later

@chuck_tamu

I have the C-658 and have been using it for a year or so. I currently use it with a FirstWatt F6 as a streamer, DAC, phono stage (MM cart) and believe it to be the best bang for the buck out there. I also have the HDMI card installed and run a Panasonic UB9000 through that. It all sounds great to me. I previously used the C-658 with Rogue M-180 tube amps, a couple vintage power amps (Onkyo M-504, Sony TA-N80ES), all going into Focal Kanta No.2s. I have compared the DAC to an Auralic Altair G1 using a Yamaha CD-S1000 as a transport and I believe there is a slim line between the 2 devices as the G1 does add a little to the overall listening experience but again, at a significant cost increase. Are there better DAC/preamps for function and sound? Yes. But, IMHO not for the same monies.

I was considering selling mine but since I hooked it up to the F6 I may keep it as part of a 2nd system. It certainly is versatile.