Any thoughts on removing a preamp from your system

Hi Phusis, a well written self analysis of what you believe is happening, well done.

As for the BCA Roquefort using the word preamp, this is a bit of a misnomer, as it does the volume control in the digital domain before the digital to analogue conversion (dac) stage, and has also in the same section a switch ability for various digital inputs. "with 2 pcs. AES / EBU, 2 pcs. S / PDIF, 1. coaxial, 1. Toslink and 1. USB"

This can be very loosely called a "digital domain preamp" but shouldn't. The word preamp is to pre-amplify in the analogue domain, and there is no preamplifing done there, and I don't believe this unit has switchable analogue inputs without seeing the back, as then there would be no control over the volume, as that's done up river in the digital domain. It should just be called a digital domain volume control with digital input switching, like many others do, Wadia, ML, etc.

After the dac it seems it has the normal I/V (current to voltage) conversion stage, post dac filtering and output buffers. No analogue domain volume controled gain stages or analogue input switching.

https://translate.google.com.au/translate?sl=da&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.studiosound.dk%2Fcddac%2Froquefort%2F&edit-text=

Cheers George

Hi George

Thank you for your comments and corrective remarks on my use of the term 'preamp.' Not to appear too apologetic I'm guessing I intended to use the term as a means to address the effort made with the analog output stage of the BCA Roquefort, and that this in a sense pointed to its deliberate use as a "preamp" (where none is) simply by virtue of having a volume control in the digital domain and a collection of digital in- and analog outputs.

If it makes any difference, here's the link to a Danish review of the Roquefort (albeit a prototype) with a picture of the left backside:

http://nerds.dk/review/?rid=155

Hi Phusis, Iike your analysis.

Yesterday I returned my Fosgate Phono amp to my VTL 5.5 preamp, and immediately noticed a lost in dynamics and transparency. Needless to say I switched back to the direct connection of my phono amp to my Audio Mirror power amp. The Audio Mirrors have pots.

I realize these results maybe due to "total" system synergy, which is why I am not throwing out my preamp just yet.

I have two other source components (Marantz SACD, and a solid state battery operated option PATHOS Phono amp), which I plan to test tonight.

Herb

My experience equals others in this thread. I would not say I have given up on "resolution", but for me also, "musicality" is even more central. Last year, I tested the Aesthetix Io phono stage direct and through preamps so much that I started to hate it. Why? Because the direct connection is indeed excellent, has outstanding clarity, and so on! It was only after awhile that I starting missing something. Gradually I learned what to listen for. Like a bit washed out sound. Big dynamics, but not timing. A friend summed it up: your speaker drivers aren't controlled in the right way. I recently managed to get a used Einstein The Tube Mk2 preamp for a fair price (here in Europe). It gives me much of what I was missing. Indeed, since it came into my system, I have not bothered with more of the tiresome with/without preamp testing. It just feels right.