All components have a sound. Tube DACs were not designed to eliminate the preamp any more than a tube phono pre is. Yes tubes into tubes could get too tubey but if they are well designed they will probably work fine. No generalizations are possible.
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?
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- 44 posts total
I have a Black Ice tube DAC (new purchase, very happy) playing through a Raven integrated tube amp. Sounds really good, starting to rival my analogue front end. It has a gain control, which doubles as a volume control for headphones. It is not designed to be connected directly to a power amp as far as I know. I went with a Tube DAC with the intention of tube rolling, which I did immediately. Huge change after adding some NOS Mullard’s. Done for now. No reason not to use a Tube DAC with a SS amp. Or the converse...my phono stage is SS. IMO the Cart/TT does the sound shaping and I wanted a clean, quiet transfer from the PS.
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"Tube DACs were not designed to eliminate the preamp any more than a tube phono pre is." |
@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. |
- 44 posts total