From what i understand, the preamp is used to amplifly the signal from the dac to the main amp. Does that mean the benefit of adding a preamp is adding coloration to your source?
I am asking this because i had a spare amp that i hooked up as a preamp because i was not using it and it made my setup sound a lot better(ADI-2 > GS-X mini(preamp) > Niimbus US5(main amp))
it seems like it added coloration onto the sound? Before the sound was good but it was a bit cold and analytical but after adding the gs-x mini as a preamp to my chain, im enjoying my setup a lot more. What are your experiences if you choose to run a preamp on your system?
There is no need to amplify the output of a DAC. Most power amps can be driven to dangerous levels with 1V input. Many DACs output 2V. A preamp fed by a DAC is almost always attenuating the signal, not amplifying it. Of course some DACs have no innate capability to control output level, and relying on software to attenuate the sound can be risky.
The unattenuated output from a DAC into a power amp can damage speakers or headphones. I have seen software unexpectedly output 100% volume. To guard against this, I use a passive preamp in one of my systems, with the volume pot is set to about 3/4 full, such that the level from the DAC is permanently attenuated. I then use software to control output level, with no fear that a software glitch will cause damage. I don't use a preamp in my main system, because all my sources are digital and my exaSound DAC has a max level setting, which I have set to -12dB. This allows me to play the system at any reasonable or sometimes unreasonable level, with no danger of going over the top.
There are other reasons to use a preamp. If you have an analog source like a turntable, tuner or tape deck, you need a preamp's switching capability and level control. It may be that your system sounds better with a preamp, because the preamp has a better level controller and/or analog output section than your digital source. Or it may simply be that the sound with the preamp is more complementary to your system or matches your personal preference for how the system should sound.
I don't use a preamp in my main system, because all my sources are digital and the exaSound DAC/pre sounds better than the very good preamp it replaced with more detail and faster transients. It's possible that a high quality preamp could improve the sound of this system, but the cost would be wildly higher than I want to spend. The exaSound designer disagrees. He says that any preamp will degrade the sound. Maybe he's right, but IMO there's nothing wrong with "colouring" the sound of your audio system. That's what audiophiles do, with cables, tube amps, odd speaker designs, etc. if it sounds more musical to you, then it's better for you, regardless of specifications or measurements. Music reproduction is art AND science.
