Is the source or preamp flawed?


In Robert Duetsch's follow-up of the CAT SL1 Renaissance Black Path Edition Preamp in the Dec issue of Stereophile, he compared the sound of the PS Audio DS dac direct to the power amps vs. through the CAT and found that it was no contest with the latter combination clearly superior and this was immediately apparent.
So, is either component here flawed - source or preamp, or is it something else in the chain - power amp, speakers, cables, etc?
128x128jon2020

Showing 1 response by swampwalker

"Most important of all, which brand(s) of cabling are you planning to use?"

W/o getting into the active vs. passive debate (or the true to source or most pleasing sound or the theory vs practice debate), it seems to me that unless there is a gross mismatch, the brand of cabling one uses is the least significant element in this discussion.

Getting into that debate, it seems to be that the only thing that matters is what pleases your ears. All the rest is just the means for reaching the end of an emotionally satisfying listening experience. So this is a case where the ends fully justifies the means. IMO,YMMV, LSMFT, SQ3R.