DAC vs. Preamp

jon2020,

I can't speak on the difference between going direct from the Aeris dac to power amps vs through the Corus preamp. The only dacs I experimented with going direct were the PS Audio DSD and Bricasti M1. I already had the JR Continuum S2 integrated amp when I purchased the Aeris and never had an opportunity to try it direct. The JR 625 S2/Corus combination is a significant step-up from the Continuum S2, but I can't honestly say which component(625 S2 or Corus) has the most impact, because I received them at the same time.

I will say, in my system the Aeris DAC has more detail, images better, and has a slightly larger soundstage than the Bricasti M1. 

In addition, I will admit that I prefer a sound on the slightly warm side of neutral and that's what my current combination provides.   

[...] I'm getting the opinion that almost no one thinks going without a preamp is a good idea. I thought that would be the case.

I beg to differ. Check out Srajan Ebaen's review of the SOtM sDP-1000 DAC/preamp with volume attenuation in the analogue realm:

http://www.6moons.comreview/sotm2/1.html

For the single digital source approach I find there are (potential) advantages to be had omitting a separate hardware preamp, going instead with a dedicated DAC/preamp like the SOtM reviewed above (which I own). Could it be a lucky/stand-out combination here that isn't at all representative of what's generally the sonic outcome with DAC-direct approaches? I don't know, except that in my specific setup (and to my ears) this combo is the preferred solution. There's a school of thought indeed that holds the importance of an active preamp to be essential in acquiring the life and dynamics of live, acoustic music (or simply any kind of music in general), and while exactly the live imprinting is something I aim to achieve via my setup I don't find the integrated DAC/preamp solution (rather than "preamp-less") to be at odds with this quest. I'm saying this to make it clear that I don't pursue any particular "starved of life, meager, bleached, thinned, clinical, in-organic, dynamically robbed" sonic imprinting here  - on the contrary.

Ricred1,

Thanks for the reply.
Maybe one day you can try the Aeris direct to the 625s and let us know the difference.  
Enjoy!

J. :)

bubba12, I've heard very good things about the Exogal!

I'm in the midst of figuring it all out. It's a little overwhelming.