DAC vs. Preamp


I have just purchased Parasound JC1 Monos and will be getting Triton Ones soon. I will be using an Arcam cd player and Macbook Pro. I think I'm done with vinyl. Too much work. Would a good DAC be sufficient in this configuration or is a preamp still the way to go. I don't want the DAC to be a weak link yet money is definitely a concern. This is a brand-new system so I'm wide open to suggestions. Help,please.


                                                                                                                             Thanks, Mike

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Showing 3 responses by cycles2

Mike,

Have you tried a Devialet D200?  After hearing one, you may be like others Devialet owners who are done with separates. It'll take care of your amp, pre-amp & DAC and will drive any speaker load. Prior to the Devialet, I've had separate high-end amps, pre-amps and DACs and the Devialet trumps anything I've owned,  Most people on this forum won't believe it but you owe it to yourself to give the Devialet a try. Before purchasing the Devialet I auditioned a $30K Burmester 911 MkIII amp and decided to go with the Devialet.  I'm now off the separates merry-go-round and enjoying music rather than always seeking the next piece to upgrade.

Instead of a Macbook Pro, I suggest an Aurender N100H streamer. I used to use a Mac and the Aurender blows away any computer-based music server in sound quality and ease of use. And Aurender's integration with the TIDAL music subscription service is amazing. In case you're not aware, TIDAL offers a redbook CD quality subscription option (no compression) and there's no sound quality difference I can tell comparing TIDAL to CDs. IMHO there's no longer a reason to purchase CDs, unless you have a sizable SACD collection. Once TIDAL offers hi-rez service, (expected in Q2 of 2016) the SACD argument lessens and purchasing $20 hi-rez album downloads from HDTracks isn't needed.
For speakers, if you have the room, there's a pair of JM Lab Utopias on A'gon.  The seller is asking $12,500.  I recently sold a pair in terrific condition for $10,000 so the seller may have some room to lower his price. These speakers are well worth the price and play all genres of music very well.  

You could consider them the last set of speakers you may ever need.  They're very efficient at 94.5 db and your Dynacos are only 86db so your Parasound JC1s will easily drive them. I've successfully driven them with a 25 watt per channel 845 SET amp (New Audio Frontiers SE). IMHO speakers are the best bang for the buck upgrade you can make in a system.