pre-amp vs dac straight to amps

I have owned and checked out quite a few DAC's and tried them all direct and via a pre-amp. Which is better varies on the DAC and I can find no commonality to give a definite answer - you need to suck it and see.

I personally haven't noticed on the DAC's that are better direct connected greater than 10db volume reduction led to an degradation in quality. I well recall checking this out on a very transparent reference system (using the reference DAC of that system - a PDX which does sound better direct connected) with some very experienced audiophiles and none of us could detect a difference with any amount of volume reduction.

Again my suggestion is to check it out for yourself.

Thanks
Bill

Greater than 10dB degadation is only with software controlled volume.

Often digital volume circuits in DACs are actually digitally controlled analog circuits. There are many off-the-shelf chips that do this.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

I'm running my Wadia 121 DAC direct into a Bel Canto amp and it sounds great. Granted, the only preamp I tried in this system was a Rotel RC 995, so I can't comment on how it would sound with a seriously high-end preamp. I do know that Wadia makes a big pitch in the manual not to use a preamp. I posted the exact language in another thread. As always, YMMV.

I'm using my DB audiolab Tranquility DAC direct into my tube power amp. Using the dithering control in pure music serves as volume control. I haven't put my Quicksilver preamp back in my system. Works great.

anyone try this channel island VPC-3 Passive controller for volume out of DAC? I am concerned that going from a DAC to class D amps (also Channel Islands) will sound to digital? I had liked to believe my tube pre-amp was warming sound?