@pontiacfoo 10 ай бұрын
I upgraded my DAC first (DirectStream Jr) but the biggest jump in quality was when I put the BHK Preamp in. Holy cow, what a combo!
@siangmingalexlau8220 10 ай бұрын
Years ago, I started using a cheap DAC with a built-in electronic volume control (not those motorized pots). In the signal path, there are no potentiometers, no pre-amps, and no equalizers; just a direct RCA connection to the power amp. It sounds much cleaner and behaves more consistently. Have never looked back since.
@lexicon612 10 ай бұрын
That is exactly how my main system is setup. MKII DAC directly to an S300 Amp. If at all possible use PS Audio recommended interconnects by Audioquest. I did and was handsomely rewarded. Keep in mind the used market is robust and all PS Audio products are built like tanks (and weigh as much) and are built to last a lifetime.
@Cenkolino 9 ай бұрын
Great advice. A great DAC will sound good even if you connect it directly to the Amp. But a good Pre-Amp can definitley improve the sound substantially. I would never skip on it although many false information is out there that it isnt really needed. I think a pre-amp is an absolute must in the long run.
@michbest 7 ай бұрын
That is what I was looking for! Thank you.
@ford1546 10 ай бұрын
100% agree with Paul. When it comes to sound products, you really have to go up in price before you really get something good. If you think you have spent a lot of money and got something really good, you don't always get something as good as you think. There are many factories that would prefer to give you the least possible for the highest possible price. Therefore, you see a little too often relatively expensive audio equipment that is made worse than expected.
@dougdavis8986 10 ай бұрын
How much should I spend to assure I have something great?
@davidfromamerica1871 10 ай бұрын
@@dougdavis8986 Re-Mortgage your house for starters. Make up a cardboard sign standing on the street corner. I spent my life’s saving on Audio Gear. Need some change for a meal. Please help a Former Audiophile.
@nekomancer350 10 ай бұрын
Why are majority of audiophiles this delusional
@ford1546 10 ай бұрын
@@dougdavis8986 It is impossible to say exactly. It may vary from brand to brand. A good example is English Naim where you pay relatively large amount of money for a CD player but if you look inside it, it is almost empty and what is inside is of relatively cheap quality.
@andygrenn680 10 ай бұрын
PSAudio NuWave DSD DAC is a DAC that punches above its weight.
@artyfhartie2269 10 ай бұрын
With a great DAC, you can feel the hot breath of the torch singer on your face and makes your moustache bristles. Or it could be your dog breathing on your face.
@davidfromamerica1871 10 ай бұрын
Feed the Dog some Doggie treats. 😀😎
@glichasasha750 10 ай бұрын
You would know it’s your dog the moment you smell the stench from his breath
@artyfhartie2269 10 ай бұрын
@@glichasasha750 I don't think my dog would like to hear this. He has a very bad temper
@V1ralB1ack 10 ай бұрын
you get different results by changing both. Every device in the chain matters in different ways
@ocelotxp 10 ай бұрын
Sure, but the potential is limited by the source, ultimately It’s a good thing DACs are not that expensive
@getsideways7257 10 ай бұрын
@@ocelotxp Indeed. A good DAC is of the utmost importance. Been having an old one for a quite a while... until I tried the Samsung dongle (384/32fp) I got myself in order to be able to listen to music on my phone at all. Thrown in some PGGB-RT for a good measure and... simply stopped listening to the old DAC. Then I got myself a brand new one with DSD support, and it's night and day. But you know what's even better? Using the old one as an amp. Ironically, it's pretty awful the other way around even though the amps in the new DAC are THX certified.
@lasskinn474 10 ай бұрын
ideally you wouldn't need to have some sort of a preamp thing to alter the signal after the dac. if you wanted to analogically turn the signal down after the dac what you would need or be doing would be achievable with a potentiometer as the purest way if you don't trust the digipots of the dac output(or however the particular dac does the output volume control). if the dac costs a LOT of money and doesn't have a way to tune the signal down well that's just silly then.
@Oystein87 10 ай бұрын
I would take the pre-amp first. But I got way too much stuff that needs to be connected (both digital and analog) to just have a DAC with volume control.. So that would not really work for me at all. But I also have a stereo integrated amp with it's own input for use as a pure power amp and it also has it's own pretty decent dual 32bit DACs and the amp is built as dual mono with a dedicated power supply for each channel that gives a total of two power supplies for the amp and looks like it also has a smaller one for the pre-amp etc. So that works great for most use.
@wiseguy2600 10 ай бұрын
I don't think DAC built in Volume Control is lossless. Big difference between having a separate preamp and direct DAC to Power Amps
@papermate8773 10 ай бұрын
As always, thank you.
@keiserrg 10 ай бұрын
Agreed 100%. Unless you have two sources there is no purpose for a pre-amp. The highest end DAC makers run direct to power amp. Feel free to research this assertion yourself.
@boudewijnkraaijmaat1091 6 ай бұрын
Best DAC?
@PanAmStyle 10 ай бұрын
In others, Paul, upstream/source components are more important than downstream? 😂 I can’t disagree with this, but I will say that with a very good “chip DAC”, a preamp upgrade can yield real improvement. I recently bought a tube preamp to bypass the preamp section in a solid state integrated amp and was overjoyed.
@nathanevans6277 10 ай бұрын
The assumption has been made that the dac is his only source. If he also runs a turntable or has an AV surround processor a preamp will still be necessary. I would still go with upgrading the dac first. If all the sources are digital then I agree no need for a separate preamp.
@getsideways7257 10 ай бұрын
While I agree the DAC comes first, the "no need for a separate preamp" part is just wrong. Even an old DAC used as a preamp can change the sound quality drastically.
@user-od9iz9cv1w 10 ай бұрын
Agreed! I run a great streamer/DAC with a nice triode output stage. I have a very transparent linestage using autoformers. I cannot tell the difference in sound quality between the digital volume control and the autoformers. So I use the autoformers to set the general level and fine tune track to track digitally to get the best dynamic range and lowest noise.
@endrizo 10 ай бұрын
most dacs ARE preamps. get one with a volume control right into a power amp. a cheap fiio bta 30 pro (with ldac bluetooth receiver) will do. or a smsl, topping etc.. dont need to spend fortunes on a dac. use, put that money on better speakers and power amp.
@ruud6899 10 ай бұрын
Such BS. A good DAC needs a good powersupply and analog stage. Neither you find in that Chinese crap.
@azar3006 10 ай бұрын
Not all dacs volume control are the same, some cheaper ones reduce dynamics as well that affects sound specially on low volume levels. I have a blue sound node 2i that connects directly to my amp but as a test put my old preamp after it and wow, I will never take it out of my system even though I only use digital sources !
@davidfromamerica1871 10 ай бұрын
@@ruud6899 My phone made in China has a DAC built in..🤗 Me be DACing to me music to Taylor Swift, already a music Legend in the music industry. If Taylor Swift ran for President, she would win the primary for nomination by a landslide. 😀
@endrizo 10 ай бұрын
@@azar3006 yeah i have my volume control at full.. you always have to test and experiment diferent ways of setting things.
@ZeusTheTornado 10 ай бұрын
@@ruud6899You lost me at power supply
@HB92647 10 ай бұрын
Hey Paul… Or anyone. I have a DCS Rossini Apex with a Clock along with a ref six se Audio Research preamp. Should I be skipping the preamp and going directly into my amp? I do have a remote and a volume knob (on the dac) always wondered why.
@endrizo 10 ай бұрын
just try it.
@andyrocha 10 ай бұрын
You can try it and be careful to keep volume low pending if you use mosaic or roon as direct to amp with fixed volume sets it to 100% so you don’t blow your speakers. That aside, I bet you will like it and even wonder why the preamp but once you put the 6SE back in it will sound better (I have a 6se as well) I’ve not heard a dac to amp sound better than through a preamp. The debate is around budget and cost but not performance. Good luck.
@PSA78 10 ай бұрын
It seems like DAC's face the law of diminishing returns rather quickly today, at least if you go by measurements alone. But maybe it's the same with pre-amps and it's in favour of DAC's. 🤷🏼♂️
@flavioc5389 10 ай бұрын
PS Audio new DAC costs $8k. 😭
@davidfromamerica1871 10 ай бұрын
Credit Card 😀
@endrizo 10 ай бұрын
would love to test it side by side with an affordable Smsl or topping.
@endrizo 10 ай бұрын
@@davidfromamerica1871 no. never. dont feed the banks. just save money and go pay cash. ..or debit.
@ryanray6215 10 ай бұрын
You know someone has to drive his new TESLA and frying himself with tons of EMF's in it . HAhahahha 🤣😂😅 My whole new incredible HiFi stereo system with the 85 inch Tv cost less than $8K
@SantanKGhey1234 10 ай бұрын
Denafrips or Gustard.... fantastic DACs
@bikdav 10 ай бұрын
Paul, how do I send questions to you? I know that here in comments is not the way.
@davidfromamerica1871 10 ай бұрын
DAC is the most important starting point for people. Phone + DAC + Headphone’s, just add music subscription to that recipe. Get them addicted to a greater Future introduction to PS Audio product’s. 😎 They can tell their Grandchildren about the day their speakers disappeared..😎👍
@dougdavis8986 10 ай бұрын
Headphones are great...if you still live in your mom's house and have no friends.
@davidfromamerica1871 10 ай бұрын
@@dougdavis8986 I would post comments on our computer instead of my phone. Mom is always on the computer watching Cat videos.
@user-uw1jc1rr6p 10 ай бұрын
Wow ok. I have three preamps. Streamer, DAC, and an intergraded amp. Which preamp should I use?
@copperheadviper7904 10 ай бұрын
I would use the pre in the integrated amp . The others set at fixed output
@user-uw1jc1rr6p 10 ай бұрын
@@copperheadviper7904 Good that’s what I’ve been doing. I just wanted to make sure. So many variables in this hobby. Thanks!
@stephenstevens6573 10 ай бұрын
If you dont stream, and you dont play CDs with any regularity, what would be the reason for a dac at all??
@davidfromamerica1871 10 ай бұрын
A conversation piece. It’s about being cool..😎 DAC COOL MAN.
@humanitech 10 ай бұрын
???...DAC's are for those who stream, record, download and playback digital files and cds ...so having a good high quality DAC is the same or is as important as getting a good hifi turntable, arm and cartridge setup or reel to reel!
@pnichols6500 10 ай бұрын
If you listen to TV (BLURAY, Movies, Netflix etc) then you need a DAC to listen though a sound system.
@turboboost99 10 ай бұрын
All that's required to call it a preamp are input switching and a volume control. You can certainly use a DAC as a digital preamp as long as you don't have any analog sources to switch between. If all you do is stream and/or play files from a drive, then a DAC should be all you need for switching and volume. Just be sure it's a 32-bit chip for "lossless" volume control.
@getsideways7257 10 ай бұрын
Have you actually tried throwing in a preamp? I simply used my old DAC as one and the difference in sound quality is too big not to notice.
@turboboost99 10 ай бұрын
I bought my first good system in 1978 and have been an avid audiophile ever since. Throughout the years I had either a preamp or integrated amp, because they were needed for analog sources as well as CD players. Over the last few years I've been exclusively using high-res digital, and currently using a Bryston BDA-3.14 as both DAC and preamp. I prefer it that way. My point is not that it sounds "better" (whatever better means to you) with or without a preamp. My statement was merely defining what a preamp is, and that most DACs these days have volume control, which makes them preamps.
@getsideways7257 10 ай бұрын
@@turboboost99 Well, you did say "If all you do is stream and/or play files from a drive, then a DAC should be all you need for switching and volume" - and that's where I disagree with you. Of course, the kind of a DAC you just named should be plenty enough in itself for pretty much anyone else, but... how useful that is for the said anyone else? I mean, that's not the kind of a price tag a "casual audiophile" is going to accept easily. Good for you that you can afford it, but for the majority of people preferring decent audio quality it's not exactly useful to know the Bryston can handle everything (apart from 705.6/768 kHz and DSD512 and up)... Not to mention you simply omitted the fact WHAT they have to use to be content with "only a DAC" (although, I have no idea how it sounds now and how it would with an additional amplifying stage, so maybe you are wrong in that regard - or there could be people who would simply prefer adding a preamp after all). Also, most modern DACs are not really preamps, but rather all in one systems that have one integrated (alongside the actual DAC - as in the chip). That does not mean they are just fine without a dedicated preamp. In fact, as I already mentioned, even using another DAC in that role can change things drastically - at least if we are talking about relatively budget solutions (what the majority of beginner audiophiles will start with anyway).
@ryanray6215 10 ай бұрын
For me the most important is pre DAC , then after preamp . LOL
@totalplonker824 10 ай бұрын
I've always been of the assumption the rabbit hole never ends when going down the route of separates, so I ought for a high-performance AVR (which btw has audiophile grade DAC) with a couple of matching high-performance power amps. 1yr later, I'm starting to ponder if I'm missing out on something? Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.
@is3commander 7 ай бұрын
R2R DAC. Maybe something older like TDA1541
@AbsoluteFidelity 10 ай бұрын
A DAC is a DAC, all it has to do is convert the digital signal to analog without introducing noise and harmonic distortion. A DAC with 'properly' induced HD and noise might sound better to human ears than an accurate DAC on some tracks, so the choice is yours, MY fidelity or high fidelity. A pre amp on the other hand is a place where you can manipulate sound more, if a designer wishes to. If you get an accurate DAC to begin with, the pre will be making the most difference in how things sound.
@NoEgg4u 10 ай бұрын
@1:50 "That's all done digitally." What? Volume / attenuation is increased as voltage is increased. That is what a pre-amp does.
@nekomancer350 10 ай бұрын
Learn to listen
@reestyfarts 10 ай бұрын
Just buy a preamp with an onboard DAC.
@ryanray6215 10 ай бұрын
Why don't you buy just integrated with an onboard preamp and DAC ?
@ThinkingBetter 10 ай бұрын
Dad, what is a preamp? Son, when you have multiple sources such as turntables, cassette deck, CD player and tuner, the preamp can switch between those sources. Dad, we are in 2023 and nobody is using CD anymore. And what is a turntable, cassette deck and tuner? ...Shut up son...
@nekomancer350 10 ай бұрын
Paul promoting scams again. It is easy to find a low cost, audibly transparent dac today. Literally the apple dongle will maintain the fidelity of the source.
@Karim-ik5ij 10 ай бұрын
None, both snake oil. Have a great day
@ryanray6215 10 ай бұрын
Audiophfulls are never ever belive in a snake oil . LOL
@AmazonasBiotop 10 ай бұрын
Oh, boy what I "h*te" the word "purist". For me it stands for someone that THINKS that they are cool. But they just "hide" behind the word "purist". When they cant or dont know or don't want to evolve with the times. It is limiting them from experience better sound quality, and they don't even realize it! No you don't get better sound quality by not fixing your room with nullification and peeks, remove lossy crossovers in speakers, implement equal loudness curves, and so forth.. No let us turn the back on ALL technology advancements the last ~100 years and continue to use the same old stuff in some more decades until we eventually die.😢 What sad way to miss out sound quality improvements!😮 Oh, yeah: "I am a purist" == "I am a dinosaur" 🦖🦕 😂
@davidfromamerica1871 10 ай бұрын
Teach your grandchildren as they are growing up, a phone is not a music toy for high end audio. 😀
@AmazonasBiotop 10 ай бұрын
@@davidfromamerica1871 Yes, I will. I will also teach them that a passive crossover in the speakers is not high end. Audiophiles are (also) hooked on convenience that trump sound quality. 👍 (Except those that use for example Linkwitz LX521 and similar Line Level crossovers)
@davidfromamerica1871 10 ай бұрын
@@AmazonasBiotop Holy S, now because of you. Audiophiles will be in panic mode shining flashlight’s into the front speakers looking for crossovers. 🙄🥹😳
@grumpy9478 10 ай бұрын
so... kinda a purist about being anti-purist.
@davidfromamerica1871 10 ай бұрын
@@grumpy9478 The war rages on..😀
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