Newbie question: Pros/Cons of a Preamp after a Bufalo III

ElEsido · 28th June 2011, 12:59 PM

Hi all Newbie here. Am planing to get a Buffalo III DAC when it comes out. I want to replace my system completely I'm a bit lost about what to get. Is a preamp needed/recommended between a Buffalo III and a Tube amp (have not yet decided which one, neither have i looked far for speakers). The aim is to drive headphones (I might rewire some to balanced mode) and speakers. What parts would be needed no the buffalo end - do I need a volume control if I use a preamp? Thanks! ElEsido

Spev · 28th June 2011, 02:19 PM

You don't need a pre, but you may prefer one, your call really. I have my buff 2 running straight into power amp. I tried a dcb1 in between but it'd didn't gel at all to my ears.

If you're listening on headphones then feasibly all you need is buff3, legato, volumite and associated psus (and source switching if you have more than one digital source). Legato will drive the headphones directly. So you could have a really minimal setup initially and then add power amp and speakers (or even active speakers) later.

LeonvB · 28th June 2011, 06:16 PM

Legato is not very suited for driving the headphones directly, unless you use the on-board SE conversion. If you want to drive balanced headphones, use the IVY output stage.
If you use the built-in volumite of the BIII, you don't need a pre-amp at all.

ElEsido · 29th June 2011, 06:40 AM

Thanks, Spev and LeonvB!

28th June 2011, 12:59 PM	#1
ElEsido diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2011	Newbie question: Pros/Cons of a Preamp after a Bufalo III Hi all Newbie here. Am planing to get a Buffalo III DAC when it comes out. I want to replace my system completely I'm a bit lost about what to get. Is a preamp needed/recommended between a Buffalo III and a Tube amp (have not yet decided which one, neither have i looked far for speakers). The aim is to drive headphones (I might rewire some to balanced mode) and speakers. What parts would be needed no the buffalo end - do I need a volume control if I use a preamp? Thanks! ElEsido

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28th June 2011, 02:19 PM	#2
Spev diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: uk	You don't need a pre, but you may prefer one, your call really. I have my buff 2 running straight into power amp. I tried a dcb1 in between but it'd didn't gel at all to my ears. If you're listening on headphones then feasibly all you need is buff3, legato, volumite and associated psus (and source switching if you have more than one digital source). Legato will drive the headphones directly. So you could have a really minimal setup initially and then add power amp and speakers (or even active speakers) later.

28th June 2011, 06:16 PM	#3
LeonvB diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Netherlands	Legato is not very suited for driving the headphones directly, unless you use the on-board SE conversion. If you want to drive balanced headphones, use the IVY output stage. If you use the built-in volumite of the BIII, you don't need a pre-amp at all.

29th June 2011, 06:40 AM	#4
ElEsido diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2011	Thanks, Spev and LeonvB!

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