DAC1 connected directly to power amp
DAC1 connected directly to power amp
Submitted by prosass on Tue, 2011-02-08 14:09Hi,
I'm looking into different possibilities for DAC + amp combination and since the DAC1 can be used as preamp, I thought I could use together with a power amp. I have the possibility to buy an used Primare A30.2 to run my Dynaudio Excite X12. The power amp itself is very powerful (100W 8ohms) and considering that my room is not that big (13x10 feet), I'm afraid the combination might not be that good. Will the DAC1 be a good preamp for such a power amp?
The Primare A30.2 is fully balanced and has XLR inputs. Would there be a real advantage of using the XLR connections instead of RCA?
Since I don't need to use neither a USB input nor an analog device, do you recommend getting a DAC1 Pre instead of the normal DAC1?
Thanks a lot in advance for your help.
Paco
DAC1 connected directly to power amp
Hello Paco,
Any of the DAC1 series would be an excellent preamp for your system. And the Primare should drive the Dynaudios beautifully.
I would use the balanced outputs if the amp allows for it. Balanced lines are less susceptible to interference, and in theory, may yield a better result. If I had the choice, I'd go with balanced.
Any of the DAC1 series will give you the performance I think you're looking for. The DAC1Pre does have premium opamps throughout as well as gold plated, Teflon insulated connectors. The reviewers believe this model to sound a little better than the original. Regardless, don't rule out the need for USB or additional inputs (including analog) that you might not need now, but could in the future.
Best Regards,
Rory Rall
You may also want to consider
You may also want to consider the DAC1 HDR if you're interested in a remote control.
Here is an overview of all the DAC1's and their features, etc:
http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac/dac1-series-overview
Best,
Elias