Based on my limited experimentation, I think the effects of impedance matching between the two options of with or without preamp in the chain is equally important. This is regarding the difference between the preamp output impedance as compared to the impedance of the DAC with a volume control.
DAC Direct to Power Amp or "Buffer"?
I recently returned to the DEQX solution for room correction via PreMate+. While it rendered an excellent DAC redundant the DEQX DAC is quite stout, and the room correction improvement is well worth the change. Of course, the PreMate+ has a volume control and is intended to also replace my preamp.
I much prefer the sound quality if I keep my analog active preamp in the signal chain between DEQX and a Pass Labs 30.8 amp. My preamp has transformer coupled differential balanced topology, and I suspect the transformer "buffering" of the DEQX output may be responsible for what I am hearing. The Empirical Audio "Final Drive" units seem to have been designed with this in mind.
I know conventional practice is to go DAC direct to power amp if the DAC has a volume control, but the improvement I hear with my preamp kept in the signal chain is far from subtle.
Has anyone had a similar experience to mine? Any "Final Drive " users out there?
I much prefer the sound quality if I keep my analog active preamp in the signal chain between DEQX and a Pass Labs 30.8 amp. My preamp has transformer coupled differential balanced topology, and I suspect the transformer "buffering" of the DEQX output may be responsible for what I am hearing. The Empirical Audio "Final Drive" units seem to have been designed with this in mind.
I know conventional practice is to go DAC direct to power amp if the DAC has a volume control, but the improvement I hear with my preamp kept in the signal chain is far from subtle.
Has anyone had a similar experience to mine? Any "Final Drive " users out there?