W4S DAC1/STI-500 vs DAC2/ST-500

I have a DAC2 and a STI-1000. I have tried using the Dac2's pre-amp in HT bypass on the STI and something was missing.The DAC2's sound was not bad but the STI's was superior. I prefer the STI's pre-amp section to the DAC2's.

The pre-amp in the STI is very different than what is built into the DAC2.

Of your choices I would buy the DAC1 and the STI because the DAC1 will probable be long gone because of advances in technoloy when th STI will still be great integrated amp.

Thanks, Tubeking. That helps.

I'd go for the DAC2 + ST500. We did actually.

The preamp stage of the DAC2 is taken from the STPSE.

It also offers an upgrade path for an STPSE in the end ;)

Tubeking,

If your using home theater bypass on the DAC2 why not go directly into the power amp?
Have you tried that configuration?

oh - I thought the sti-500 was their preamp but now I see its actually their integrated amp

So please disregard question! :)