Does a DAC need a pre-amp

[pooger]

21 hours ago, GUTB said:

 

Have you tried a preamp that costs more than $50?

My last preamp (still owned, and gets occasional use) was a Pass Aleph P. It did cost (ahem...) more than $50. Chosen at the time based on listening comparisons with other top preamps, using a pair of Rowland Ones (ditto), with a Wadia DAC that let me by pass a preamp altogether. It was the most transparent, and added the gain necessary for that system. 

 

Current Dac is a Buffalo, with heavily modded Legato output. I feed a pair of The Wire amps, with the gain structure built to give me a volume I want with quiet recordings (i.e., plenty loud with most). The difference between having a preamp in line v. Going straight from DAC to amps is not subtle. 

 

This is is not a yes or no question—it's going to depend on the specific DAC, the specific amp, and possibly the speakers. For many, a preamp will improve the sound, but for some, it just adds additional veiling and noise.