pre-amp vs dac straight to amps

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?

ok, i tried a/b on pre-amp vs direct. I was kinda stunned at the sound direct from DAC to amps. It was so big and in your face, lots of bass punch and overall more "impact" I was glad to hear that human voices did not suffer in this.

However, I do feel there was a slight loss of detail and smoothness in upper mid range so.... still preplexed on which way to commit. new per-amp or passive pre-amp.

mlapenta,

I had to smile when I saw your post.

My experience is exactly the opposite of yours: DAC direct to amps is more "transparent," has better detail, and smoothness—but, for me, it's through the preamp that has lots of bass punch and impact! (Isn't audio—or is that the human mind?— wonderful?)

I suppose, though, that this could be explained by the particular combinations of components used.

[My experience is based, most recently, on the following set-up: DAC is Bel Canto DAC 3.5VB/VBS1; preamps are Bryston BP-26, Allnic L3000A, BAT VK-51SE; power amps are McCormack DNA-500 and DNA-1 SMc Audio Revision Gold; speakers are Tannoy System 15 DMT II and TAD Exclusive TSM-2402 clones.]