DAC DIRECT IN TO AMPLIFIER OR TO PREAMPLIFIER

My Sansui alpha integrate , a vintage product from 35 years ago i used for my headphone, i decided to upgrade from it with one of the best reputed and reviewed tube amplifier for headphone or efficient speakers and pre-amplifier in the world for his price...One month ago...

I return it on the spot after one hour listening ( he was in used state from the manufacturer ) ... No comparison at all between the two amp. for serving my hard to drive and picky AKG K340 gem, i lost a lot of money for me in the process, postal fees, insurance and customs...300 bucks...

😊

But i learned that all is about synergy and a vintage marvel could be not an obsolete piece of trash but a top product even today...

Then it is useless to proclaim rule as tube amp are better or pre-amp are necessary etc... Too many exceptions...

it is better to proclaim as absolute a rule as : synergy rule ...

Then if the integrate is top notch no need to buy a pre-amp...

If the integrate is less top notch now you must match the pre-amp and the amp, and who knows replace your integrated simply by a better one...

Paul,

There is a large contingenet of people out there who think adding a preamp adds to the quality of the signal headed to the speakers.  these are mostly the people selling preamps.  Add to that those who have bought a pre-amp and want to defend their position. 

Certainly adding a pre-amp will likely change the sound.  Different doesn't mean better. 

I"m a purist, similar to what you've described.  the best the music can get is what is recorded on the source medium.  as you process and amplify it, you can't add anything, only subtract from the perfection that exists at the beginning.  The less you touch the signal, the better off you are.  

So I think you are exactly right to use your DAC to feed your amp.  I do that with my Chord DAVE.

Thanks for this thread, it did create the funniest statement I've seen on audiogon for a while.  "DACs reduce vollume by dropping bits."   Great plan:  this guy is listening at low levels so he doesn't need all the music.  we will just throw some of it away.  Great example of how people don't understand digital.

Jerry

I agree with Jerry.

If you have source components with robust output stages and low output impedance into an amp with high input impedance and sensitivity, an active preamp will degrade the sound quality in most instances. Less = more in this application.

I agree with Jerry and Ozzy62.

Though I do have an SPL Phonitor 2 I use as a headphone/pr amp in one of my system configurations and a Schiit Freya + I use as a passive-pre. I like swapping things around and in addition I have a very nice Tube Integrated in another system. I like mixing things around. The SPL is very nuteral and is a spectacular headphone amp.

short answer is it depends... blanket generalizations not useful, specifics matter