ARC with PS Audio

[Harbapapa]

There seems to be some who have PS Audio dac with ARC amps (e.g. RLF?). Can you tell how these to brands go together. I have ARC ref3 preamp and I'm thinking of buying PS Audio Directstream dac. How e.g. Perfectwave dac has worked for you? Have anyone taken off their ARC preamp and connected Perfectwave dac straight to poweramps (seems that Perfectwaves volume control is not so "unvisible" but directstreams should be better in this regard?).

Thanks.

[Hifisand]

I have been using a DS and ARC d-250 and D-150 and SP-10 driving 3.7's. Sound great. Not using DS volume. preamp gives more drive to the music. Just sold 3.7's and going to 20.7's that ship Monday.

[RLF]

In my system, I highly prefer my preamp in the chain over the DirectStream DAC directly into the amp.

[doggiehowser]

I think it depends on the quality of the preamp.

I preferred using my ARC Ref5SE in the chain - just a better soundstage width and depth and a slight warmth in the midrange.

But with a lot of the systems I have tested it on - I preferred the DS direct to the power amps.

[RLF]

In my opinion, one really needs to test these types of things in their own system and compare their rig with and without their preamp, and then make an assessment based on their own ears: no one else's. Just my 2 cents here.

FYI, if you haven't seen it already, There are discussions adnaseum on the PS Audio forums regarding this subject.

[loctorwabbit]

HI RLF, just wondering how u arrived at your choice of PS audio's direct stream dac as opposed to others. Probably relevant also would be what kind of music do you listen to.

i run similar equipment to you but found it abit bright for my liking in jazz, vocals and blues compared to my AMR and the CD9.

thanks!!

dave


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