tj-sully, it is a blast! From my experience, which admittedly isn’t that extensive, some of the nos tubes I’ve tried were better over a portion of the frequency range, NOS mullards were strong on bass, NOS tungsrams good in the mids, NOS Amperex good through top of bass into mids, but all had glaring negatives that eventually raised their ugly heads. The current production tubes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but all seem to cover the frequency range with fewer negatives. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to spend too much money in the future on NOS tubes!
Yes, the tactile response of a volume control, even with mechanical clicking that you can feel in the knob as you rotate it, exudes quality and is fine by me. I’ve mentioned a few times before I liked the volume control on the DSJ (which you don’t get on the Senior). However, if you can hear any clicking or other audible artifacts delivered to the speakers, i.e. anything other than the desired volume change, to me that represents a design weakness and would be a deal breaker.
seems that a DAC’s big problem is with Digitally Controlling the Volume…maybe that’s why a preamp can be preferable in conjunction…
There is no problem with the digital controlling the volume in the Directstream it is lossless (Ted’s words).
sorry…terms confuse me…is lossless the same as no added sonic ingredients?
I wish Janet’s daughter’s keys were lossless.
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Yes. Ted designed with enough overhead bits that the volume could be lowered without compromising resolution.
is lossless the same as no added noise?
It does not add any noise at the very lowest limits of the control the signal to noise ratio is slightly less. No one listens if driving and amp directly at the lowest settings.
I hear you…but, topic Leaves me at a loss(less) as to why need the preamp if not for volume control (and of course multiple inputs)…oh well…your guess is better than mine…
Except when you get a volume runaway and it blows up your speakers, which happened to me. But that was before they installed a volume limiter in the software.
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I got better sound when I went from dsd direct to BHK pre. That’s NOT a guess!
That would very definitely be a danger of a software controlled volume control whether it worked in the digital or the analog domain!
Are you trying to revive the preamp no preamp issue? It sure seems like it. I love the sound of the Directstream both direct and through the BHK Preamp. You can select inputs on the DAC or a Preamp and you can adjust the volume on both! So the discussion is finished!
There are many threads on this which you will find with a simple search; e.g, click.
“Resistance is futile” !
Interesting as I am doing the opposite. I have a BHK preamp running now, and am waiting for a Aesthetix Janus to arrive. The only thing I just noticed is there is not trigger output for the amps. This seems silly to not have on a unit with a 7k price tag. Anyone have a solution? RCA trigger? Do they make this?
I turn on my amp with the trigger output on the P-10!
I have a p20. It’s set up to have all outlets on all the time. But will the trigger output work to trun on amps from the p20 remote but still keep every outlet on at all times? I have never used this trigger on the p20.
Yes, it will. I use the trigger on my P5 in exactly this way. The outlets will remain on, but the trigger and the front display will turn on and off with the power button.