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All the people who own sizable CD collection could try R-2R DACs like May DAC and/or Denafrips DACs, and use their NOS filters :-) .....
Digital sources: Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP universal player; Weiss DAC502 D/A processor.
Preamplifier: NHT PVC.
Power amplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 1+ monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: KEF LS50, GoldenEar BRX.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Vodka (Ethernet), AudioQuest Coffee (USB), DH Labs (1m, AES/EBU), Esperanto (S/PDIF). Interconnect: Canare (balanced). Speaker: AudioQuest K2. AC: AudioQuest Dragon Source & High Current, manufacturers' own.
Accessories: Sanus SF30 & Celestion 24" loudspeaker stands; Target TT-5 equipment racks; Ayre Acoustics Myrtle Blocks; ASC Tube Traps, RPG Abffusor panels; AudioQuest Niagara 5000 Low-Z Power/Noise-Dissipation System (amplifiers) and AudioQuest Niagara 1000 Low-Z Power/Noise-Dissipation System (source components). AC power comes from two dedicated 20A circuits, each just 6' from breaker box.
Room: 20' (left side), 25' (right side) × 16' × 8'.John Atkinson
All the people who own sizable CD collection could try R-2R DACs like May DAC and/or Denafrips DACs, and use their NOS filters :-) .....
JA1 did a comparison between May DAC and Weiss DAC502 ...... JM has MBL N31 player/DAC ...... May be JM could do a follow-up comparison review between May DAC and MBL N31 :-) .......
+ Bricasti Design M21. I am looking for a ladder DAC with volume control. :-)
Bricasti M21 costs $19,000 ...... If you don't mind a pre-amp, you could use a pre-amp like the Parasound JC 2BP which has gain controls (reviewed by Stereophile) ...... May DAC + JC 2BP cost less $10k :-) .......
Thanks Bogolu! For some reason, I thought the M21 was $13K. I am trying to stay away from another component. To be consistent with my current system, it would mean another $3250 for another XLR and power cable. Something to consider though as the M21 is expensive. :-)
You are welcome ...... You could donate that extra $10k to me, since I'm thinking about buying the May DAC + JC 2BP, myself :-) .......
Congratulations! Someone on the audioaficionado site mentioned that the M21 is $8K more than the M3 which is $5K. I need to follow up on the price. If you are correct, I may make the same choices as you. I currently have a A21+ amplifier so that pre-amp would look at home. Why are you going for it versus the LA-4?
I checked the price of M21 DAC on the internet ...... LA4 would be a good choice too ...... JC 2BP has HT bypass (a.k.a processor loop) ........
If you listen to headphones also, HPA4 would also be another good choice :-) .....
And as you remember, I purchased it and LOOOOOVE it. Just food for thought.. lol.
Bogulu, If you want the reference grade Benchmark HPA4 ($3.3k) preamplifier / headphone amplifier, why not also get the reference grade (non-R-2R) Benchmark DAC3 B ($1.8k), and maybe add a (non-Benchmark) WiiM Mini ($0.08k) streamer, and a pair of (also non-Benchmark) Buckeye Purifi 1ET7040SA Monoblock v2 amplifiers ($0.95k per each).
We (Sonore) used the M21 for our demo system at RMAF in 2019. Sonore Signature Rendu SEoptical renderer-M21 DAC-M25 power amp-Vivid Audio Kaya 45 speakers.
The system sounded fantastic both via the R2R section of the M21 for PCM, and especially via the discrete, single bit converter section for DSD.
I would offer a very high recommendation for the M21. The price is actually very, very fair, as the the build quality (inside and out) on the Bricasti DACs needs to be seen to be appreciated. Also consider that the M21 features three separate DACs internally: dual chip SD DAC for DSD and PCM, dual chip R2R DAC for PCM, and a discrete single bit converter for DSD, and made in uSA of course, with outstanding customer service from Bricasti.
After hearing what the M21 could do for DSD input, I purchased its little brother the M3, which has the same discrete single bit converter stage for DSD, and analog volume control as the M21. I convert all formats to DSD 256 in the server, and send that to the M3 for final conversion, and this approach sounds fantastically good here, direct to amp, using the M3's analog volume control.
They are really missing out on % of sales with some that prefer to go direct to power amp and control the volume from the dac.
Love the test report, especially how clean the -90db wave forms are, and low impedance drive capabilities down to 600ohms!! which at 3v-se, 6v-bal out deserves a volume control.
Cheers George
I would love to listen to this DAC both in NOS mode and in NOS mode with upsampling and a filter in SW in my computer- I use Audirvana with an iZotope filter similar to Ayre's "Listen." I would then use Audirvana's volume control in my preamp-less system.
Bill
remind all you preamp-less folks that gain management is one of the most important considerations a recording studio or home audiophile must address. Overall system gain affects signal-to-noise levels, perceived dynamics, and the ability to make subtle (but not too subtle) volume level adjustments.
hr
Both Benchmark LA4 and HPA4 have 256-step volume controls ...... So, gain controls may not be a big issue :-) ......
Yes, the Benchmarks are excellent but how one manages system gain best depends on all the components in the chain, not just on the presence/absence of the preamp.
Kal (preamp-less)
I am talking about an audio system's total gain-matrix which is the gain sum of all active stages. Typically an amplifier has 22-27dB and a line-level preamp has 5-10dB. Most well-managed audiophile systems come in around 30-35dB total. 20dB total is very low. 40dB will scare your pets and make the volume control almost useless.
h
If you (KR) are using the Parasound A31 and A21+ for your 5-channel surround sound system, they come with built-in gain controls ....... That should help .....
I thought you are/were using the Okto dac8 Pro, 8-channel DAC/preamp with volume control for your surround sound system? .......
Both LA4 and HPA4 are 2-channel preamps ...... You have to use 3 of those preamps for your 5-channel surround sound system :-) ........
If you (KR) are using the Parasound A31 and A21+ for your 5-channel surround sound system, they come with built-in gain controls ....... That should help .....
Nope. I have neither of those amps. However, the Benchmark AHB2 are more suitable with its gain selections.
I thought you are/were using the Okto dac8 Pro, 8-channel DAC/preamp with volume control for your surround sound system? .......
Yes but I have other DACs and sources.
Both LA4 and HPA4 are 2-channel preamps ...... You have to use 3 of those preamps for your 5-channel surround sound system :-) ........
I've already done that but it is clunky and inconvenient.
https://www.stereophile.com/content/benchmark-la4-line-preamplifier-multichannel-application
the combo of the LA4 and the AHB2 have almost no equal at the price. 3 settings on the amp and 10db worth of volume level changes on the pre- and the quality of the sound doesn't change one iota at any gain or volume setting choice. Level matching sources is a breeze.
I definitely agree, Mr. Reichert. It is often overlooked, but very important. Optimally any attenuation should be minimized, digital (especially) or analog. Ideally everything should be running close to "wide open" at optimal listening levels.
The analog preamp is interesting these days with many DACs having volume control, analog and/or digital. Both the analog output stage and the digital attenuation scheme in these DACs must be excellent.
There was an era where passive preamps rose to prominence (the 90s?). This brings important considerations in impedance. I used a set of EVS "ultimate attenuators" in that era (two small boxes plugged directly into the amp RCAs with a rotary switch selecting individual resistors). Thankfully it was a headphone system so I was sitting next to them. :)
Later I built a transformer-coupled DAC (GREAT sound) that needed minimal attenuation.
Many reviewers found passive "preamps" lacking, especially in dynamics. JA has always emphasized the importance of active line stages, describing them as the most important link. Many preferred a great active line stage to passive, and several since have noted improvement bypassing DAC volume controls and using external line stages.
Back to gainstaging. I sold off my entire system before going overseas in 2012. I was full-on exotica to that point (tubes, vinyl, stats, etc.). When I returned and build back up I did it slowly and less exotically, leaning toward pro stuff and simplicity. I use an RME ADI-2 at its lowest gain setting into a Benchmark amp at its lowest setting and listening with a total of 0.5 to 6db of attenuation (with the volume control in the RME) when listening. It is pretty cool.
If I could get the gainstaging right, I wouldn't hesitate to use the Holo DAC with a bit of digital attenuation.
Best,
Bill
I can see an ad ....... Want cure for audiophile depression? .... buy D'Agostino Momentum HD preamp ($40k, reviewed by Stereophile :-) .......
Of course, not everyone reading my rave review of this monster preamp will have the spare cash to buy one in the middle of a pandemic. But high-priced gear is reportedly selling well of late. I still consider this baby a "monster" that intensifies colors in a distinctly musical way, increases size and weight of images, and raises a system a major level.
Way back, I tried a friend's passive preamp. I found that it detracted rather than added to the presentation. Not so with many of the active preamps that have come my way for review.
jason
Based on my readings elsewhere, I believe the best way to achieve May's peak performance is to use external DSD conversion/oversampling - like HQPlayer to convert any PCM to DSD 512 - then to feed May in NOS mode.
I wish reviewers would test equipment like the May this way, with HQPlayer (or even just via Roon, which still does pretty well oversampling to DSD 256). The oversampling chip used in the May has been shown in measurements to be pretty poor in performance when compared to HQPlayer, which is not surprising consider the difference in processing power available in a small chip like that, compared to what HQPlayer uses in a computer server to oversample to DSD 256...
Continuing in this vein: again I find lacking that when Stereophile measures DACs which have completely separate conversion paths for DSD and PCM that they do not provide complete measurements for DSD and PCM. I would want to see complete measurement sets for DSD and PCM, and also including spot measurements for oversampling to higher rates in software.
"Overall system gain affects signal-to-noise levels"
Yes and if you don't use all the source has to offer, your just adding more noise from the active preamp gain stage. (really think about it, your shunting the source signal to ground with a active preamp volume control just to make it back up again with it's own gain stage)
Most sources today can output well over 3v, most amps only need .5v to 1.5v in for full wattage output!!
Quote from Nelson Pass:
Nelson Pass,
“We’ve got lots of gain in our electronics. More gain than some of us need or want. At least 10 db more.
Think of it this way: If you are running your volume control down around 9 o’clock, you are actually throwing away signal level so that a subsequent gain stage can make it back up.
Routinely DIYers opt to make themselves a “passive preamp” - just an input selector and a volume control.
What could be better? Hardly any noise or distortion added by these simple passive parts. No feedback, no worrying about what type of capacitors – just musical perfection.
And yet there are guys out there who don’t care for the result. “It sucks the life out of the music”, is a commonly heard refrain (really - I’m being serious here!). Maybe they are reacting psychologically to the need to turn the volume control up compared to an active preamp.”
Cheers George
You may be interested in reading the article 'Relay-controlled volume' on Benchmark media blog :-) .....
A volume control should, in almost all cases, really be called a signal attenuation control. It is very, very rarely a gain control and, generally, system gain is determined by a number of elements with fixed gain.
One consequence of this is that the more you attenuate the signal the more you reduce the SNR since the noise is fixed). So gain management consists of adjusting and/or selecting a chain of components that will amplify the signal enough to listen to and not much more.
Of course, that is constraining in use so having a variable attenuator somewhere is useful. Where to put it and how to construct it are separate matters.
A preamp like the JC 2BP has both gain controls and volume control ...... Does that work? :-) ......
Recenty reviewed MBL N11 preamp has both unity gain control and volume control ...... Does that work? :-) .......
Without examining either of those, I will say that it is not about a single component. System gain matching involves all the components in a system. Some individual ones make the effort easier.
You (KR) reviewed both the JC 2BP and the A21+ :-) ........
Yeah, you can get them SE or Bal like this one.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Finished-Relay-Volume-controller-Balanced-Po...
Cheers George
Are they 256-step volume controls like the Benchmark LA4 and HPA4? :-) ......
read the ad.
I have the SE one somewhere around here with remote and 4 inputs, very well built, same guy.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Finished-HIFI-Remote-volume-Controller-128-s...
Cheers George
Why are you not using it? ...... Is it still working? .... Are you sure it is the same Benchmark guy who built it? :-) .......
There's even better, look at my avatar! the only thing that betters it, is source with digital domain volume control direct to amp. (so long as it's not use too low (<75% of full) as to introduce "bit stripping")
Cheers George
The only thing that can better the Lightspeed Attenuator is a preamp which has 1024-step, relay-controlled volume ....... Just kidding :-) .....
Why not try the Parasound JC-5 or the A21+? ....... They both come with built-in gain controls :-) .......
Are they gain controls?
See, my comments above :-) .....
AHB2 has built-in gain control settings ...... Are they gain controls? :-) ......
@John Alexander, would be nice one day to measure, an R2R dac with digital domain volume control to see at what level those dacs start to "bit strip" Wadia and ML have been aware of it since the early days.
As this from Wadia states with final gain stage setting to get the max resolution from using a digital volume. https://ibb.co/vcd8dMP
Cheers George
"Are they gain controls?"
Level/gain Kal, they both control the sources signal voltage going to the amp, one just does it cleaner and is direct coupled without any active components in the signal path, causing added coloration's and distortions, that aren't needed to begin with. As the sources today have all the voltage they need to drive amp to full output and much more these days. Just as Nelson Pass stated above.
Cheers George
So, what does Nelson Pass do with his preamps ...... How does he design them? :-) .......
Makes money, he's not stupid!
Cheers George
'Do what I say, but don't do what I do' :-) ......
You may also be interested in reading JVS' interview with Jugen Reis, designer of MBL N11 preamp ...... In that interview Reis describes his 'unity gain' design principles :-) ......
Like I said, he supplies to the market that want them, and makes money from those preamps, he's not stupid
Cheers George
'If you build them, they will come' ..... especially, if your name is Nelson Pass :-) .......
JA2 could do a follow-up comparison review(s) between Pass Labs XP-22 ($9.5k) and Pasound JC 2BP ($4.5k)) and Benchmark LA4 ($2.6k) :-) .......
As far as I know, Nelson designs the amps, not the preamps.
Interesting Victor, didn't know that, well if right that makes his quote about passive preamps quote look even more legit in what he says.
Nelson Pass:"What could be better? Hardly any noise or distortion added by these simple passive parts. No feedback, no worrying about what type of capacitors – just musical perfection.really - I’m being serious here!".
But there is a impedance matching proviso with 10k passive preamps as their highest output impedance is around 2.5k.
First "the amp" input impedance has to be more than >33kohm input impedance (most are except for some Class-D's), and "if" it has capacitor input coupling, the cap has to be 5uF or higher or bass roll off will occur.
Second "the source" should have a low output impedance, most solid state ones are. But many tubes ones are not.
Cheers George
So, Pass preamps work well with Pass designed power-amps ....... just like, darTZeel preamp and power-amp combo :-) ........
That kind of a combo could provide a transparent window between the source and the loudspeakers (straight wire with gain) :-) ......
I thought Stereophile had a 5 dealer minimum policy before reviewing a product.
But Holo has no USA dealers and you have to shell out $4,9898.00 sight unheard with NO refunds? Sounds pretty crazy to me.