Hi,
I wonder if any of you are listening to a DS DAC directly connected to a power amplifier or two mono blocks? Does it work? Is it good?
Mine line of thinking is that I only have the DAC connected to the amplifier, no radio, no LP player only the DAC which is connected to the NAS and the DMP.
Less might be more! 
Yes, works really well. I drove my Pass Lab XA60.5ās directly from my DSS. It was the second best it ever sounded (adding the BHK Pre did improve the sound, but not massively).
I know many do this and have done it with great results! Some swear by it and donāt think an active pre is needed, but when folks take the dive into a good pre like the BHK, they seem pretty impressed with the results.
Well in my case, I tried the direct connection from the DS to Soulution 710 amp. The result was that I sold my Audio Research REF5-SE and the Audia Flight Strumento NĀ°1 mk2 Stereo Preamplifiers.
Wish I have never tried this way but I do not regret selling the Preamps.
I go direct to amp. I did not like it as much before sunlight. However I am going balanced vs single ended as my pre did not have balanced connectors. My experience was a darker background ā¦ cleaner sound ā¦ and just more contrast. The pre was no slouch and Iām still struggling with it ā¦ 
From the comments so far, I think you get a sense that ādirectā is not inherently ābetterā than via a pre, or the other way around for that matter. It can just be ādifferentā. At a certain level of quality in the surrounding gear, I think other factors are equally important.
I started experimenting about when Snowmass came out and again with Windom and then Sunlight. I really couldnāt decide one way or the other. Both sounded good but ādifferentā. I ended up going direct because, with Sunlight, it didnāt quite sound as spacious with my pre and cables compared with going direct.
Iām active with three DSs but need to go balanced into my BHKs for mid/treble in order to get enough gain.
Going without a pre may work well in your system, and thatās how I ran mine for a couple years. Until last year, I got a locally made tube pre thatās fully balanced, each channel running 3 x 6922 tubesā¦ and it breathed life to the music. It packs more punch and dynamics - it felt more lively. Or maybe I just like having tubes in the chain?
The best way to find out is to find a retailer who allows you to home trial a pre in your system. Have fun and keep us posted!
There is no wrong way to implement the DSD! Try it both ways if you can and select your favorite.
Like n-tone I also use a balanced preamp with three 6922 tubes per channel (though I am using 6085 tubes with converter bases). I love the sound of the DSD through this preamp!
Just to share my experience here, with something already stated in another topic:
Didnāt try an active pre, but DS Junior with several integrated amplifiers. Always prefered DS direct to my current power amp (until the passive pre).
Iām a āpreamp is the heart of the system guyā find the right one for your system and your ear and it can change your life
Not saying direct from a quality DAC with a quality volume control in place canāt sound good, in my case the sound with my line-stage in the chain smokes the direct connection with the same DAC (DSD)
Probably a great option for those with a single source and a high quality DAC with attenuation
Best,
-JP
I ran my DS balanced outputs directly into a Mark Levinson No. 23.5 for several years. Although I was quite happy with the sound, switching the attenuator on/off and adjusting the volume level to hit that sweet spot grew tiresome. Today I added a No. 523 Preamplifier into my system and was quite surprised at the improvement. The soundstage opened up and transients became tighter and more dynamic. I had difficulty tearing myself away to write this. My system benefited significantly from adding a quality preamplifier. Your mileage may vary.
Plus, now you have inputs available for a nice little analog rigš
Best,
-JP
Dusting off my Denon turntable and looking up the correct loading for my Ortofon MC cartridge. The last time I used this table I had a hairline and a waistline! Speed control needs a shot of contact cleaner but the direct drive motor runs just fine. Even found a Discwasher cleaning system in the box. I forgot all about that thing. Even have fluid too! I think a MFSL pressing of Dark Side of the Moon is a fitting welcome back spin.
