Recommendation from dCS gear owners


I have all dCS gear (Verdi->Purcell->Delius) I was thinking of adding a preamp, the Delius is directly driving my Sonic Frontiers Power 3 mono tube amps that drive Genesis 350. I need the preamp so I can integrate my HT. Currently I have to switch cables back and forth. My question here is, if I go for a reference level preamp like ML 32, Pass X-02, AR REF 2, or BAT VK-51SE would I get any improvements? of course I would have to add another set of interconnects on the way but assume that I will also use reference quality cables. I would like to here from those who have similar gear and did comparison with and without preamp.
thanks
p.s. I live overseas and doing such comparison myself will be very costly.
myoussif

Showing 2 responses by jfrech

Ok, I just sold a Delius. Have a BAT vk50se. I hear the 51se is better. Anyway, the 50se ain't bad. I am running a BAT VK75SE and Wilson wp6's. Here is my opinion. The Delius running straight to the amps at near full volume is pretty amazing. The transparency, the palpability is to die for. Everything that you like now I imagine. The 50se did help a little with depth and soundstage size-not a lot, a sutble thing for sure. A better power cord on the Delius made more of a diffence.

Now the 50se walks all over the Delius at lower listening levels. I never noticed it when I ran my Delius direct for awhile. Never could understand what everyone around here would say when those digital volume controls mess things up a little. All that transparency stays all the up/down the volume range. So, my vk50se always stayed in the chain once I had the preamp.

To me, and for my listening level preferences, the preamp makes a huge diff. Any of the 4 you mention above are great, just pick the one that best matches your amp.

XLR's cables here a must I think.

Hope that helps...
I'm using my bat vk50se with a 25ft run of Trans Ref xl xlr's to the bat vk75se. Works great for me. I also have had it with just 1 meter of the Trans ref xf between amp and pre. No diff on the 25ft run.

KF...I have no exper w/ digital preamps other than what's built into Wadia and DCS. If it's a digital volume control, my guess is it's going to suffer the same fate. I know Mark Levinson uses analog volume controls in their cd/dac players for this reason.