"you might try eliminating the relative complication and noise of a pre-amp in favour of a transformer volume control (TVC) or similar device:"
In my case that's not an option because I use 3 analog inputs besides the 2 DACs. Well, maybe if I ran the main DAC via single end to amps. TVC is very much in the picture either way, however. Room correction needed whatever the electronics.
Tube DACs
For some time I've assumed that tube DACS are meant for direct output to power amps -- in other words, no reason to use a tube DAC if you are running through a tube preamp (unless all components are by same mfr and designed for synergy).
But lately I have seen posts implying some run Brand A tube DAC through brand B tube preamp -- say, Primal Luna 100 to Rogue RP-9. Can't find any prior threads addressing this topic directly.
So, question: am I wrong to suppose that pairing random tube DAC A with random tube preamp B is a bad, or at least a silly idea, absent a known synergy?
S
Showing 5 responses by hickamore
Thanks to all for the informative answers. Somehow I had forgotten those tube DACs having no volume control. So what about pairing tube DAC with SS preamp? (Not that I'm planning any experiments, and if I did, @ghdprentice is correct, they wouldn't really be "random"). |
@audioman58 The T+A DAC 200 is actually top of my list. With a tube preamp always. Whether a tube DAC would better sit my ears is TBD. |
"Tube DACs were not designed to eliminate the preamp any more than a tube phono pre is." |
@axo0oxa You miss the point. As the thread above has clarified, a tube DAC (or any DAC) with volume control can be used as a preamp in itself. So the OP asks, is you have a tube DAC and like tube sound, why bother using it simply to feed a tube preamp? The overwhelming answer is (a) results are better running any DAC, tube or SS, through a preamp rather than direct to amp; (b) patrons of tube sound prefer tube DACs with their tube preamps, and there is no reason NOT to use this combination as most devices are compatible. |