PreAmp: The Standalone Component Vs DAC Built in Module

[Ultrafast69]

Hi Everyone:

I was asked to compare the MSB Reference Preamp Module against the D’Agostino Momentum updated HD PreAmp that feeds a pair of updated M400 Momentum Mono’s.

So this past weekend, I pulled things apart and ran the MSB Reference as the PreAmp/DAC, leaving the Momentum HD PreAmp unpowered sitting lonely on the sidelines and perhaps even grinning.

- Was it good? Yes!
- Does music sound fine without a mated preamp? Yes!
- Anything to be embarrassed about? No way!

MSB did a great job with the preamp module, they really did and I am just not saying that, they really have things down checking all the boxes. The tonality is sharp and crisp full of detail, dynamics are carried to the amps with ease. If one wants simplicity, space, cost savings and a good sound, then running this configuration is certainly something to consider.

With that being said, audio is a game of points to shape a sound you are working to acheive, it's what I call the hobby. Now in this case with knowing what I have in a preamp, it becomes an easy choice; the Momentum HD preamp goes to the dance over the DAC direct, but why?

It’s that holographic imaging and tonal qualities that present themselves in a manner of cohesiveness and with more meat on the bone, you won’t go hungry wanting more. There’s no playing around, it just works. IMO a matched preamp and amplifier is simply designed, constructed and voiced together. All the qualities of internal cabling, transformer specs, circuitry and even the case dampening work together in perfect harmony. Of course there is no fight for matching gain and impedance. So with all this plus the options for additonal sources to connect to, it's hard to beat.

In the end this is audio, and it really boils down to budget, sound quality and space. With that, others may experience something different since audio has lots of variables. Soon I will be comparing the combination of the MSB Reference with the S500 stereo amplifier and will see how this works as now it checks some of the boxes mentioned above.

I hope my point of view helps, Stay Safe and Long Live Audio!

 

[Addicted to hifi]

Interesting. Thanks

 

[R S]

Hi Everyone:

I was asked to compare the MSB Reference Preamp Module against the D’Agostino Momentum updated HD PreAmp that feeds a pair of updated M400 Momentum Mono’s.

So this past weekend, I pulled things apart and ran the MSB Reference as the PreAmp/DAC, leaving the Momentum HD PreAmp unpowered sitting lonely on the sidelines and perhaps even grinning.

- Was it good? Yes!
- Does music sound fine without a mated preamp? Yes!
- Anything to be embarrassed about? No way!

MSB did a great job with the preamp module, they really did and I am just not saying that, they really have things down checking all the boxes. The tonality is sharp and crisp full of detail, dynamics are carried to the amps with ease. If one wants simplicity, space, cost savings and a good sound, then running this configuration is certainly something to consider.

With that being said, audio is a game of points to shape a sound you are working to acheive, it's what I call the hobby. Now in this case with knowing what I have in a preamp, it becomes an easy choice; the Momentum HD preamp goes to the dance over the DAC direct, but why?

It’s that holographic imaging and tonal qualities that present themselves in a manner of cohesiveness and with more meat on the bone, you won’t go hungry wanting more. There’s no playing around, it just works. IMO a matched preamp and amplifier is simply designed, constructed and voiced together. All the qualities of internal cabling, transformer specs, circuitry and even the case dampening work together in perfect harmony. Of course there is no fight for matching gain and impedance. So with all this plus the options for additonal sources to connect to, it's hard to beat.

In the end this is audio, and it really boils down to budget, sound quality and space. With that, others may experience something different since audio has lots of variables. Soon I will be comparing the combination of the MSB Reference with the S500 stereo amplifier and will see how this works as now it checks some of the boxes mentioned above.

I hope my point of view helps, Stay Safe and Long Live Audio!

Curious on any updates pairing the MSB DAC direct to the MSB S500 as mentioned? Sorry if missed on another thread.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

Welcome r s to wbf.

 

[K3RMIT]

I can agree with all you said
but judging by replies you made no friends
I would not own a dac at any price and depend on it for the preamp alone.

 

[K3RMIT]

A looking up of how the volume control is done shows possible reasons why it may sound as it does.
it’s purly a passive volume module with a twist. it maintains the output imp.
so as it attenuates with resistors internally , it uses a resistor network to maintain a constant output imp. on some use of audio amps used for headphones the resistor network is needed.

 

[Motoman]

I have an MSB Discrete DAC w. Premier Power Supply, running direct to my Pass Labs 250.8, powering Wilson Sabrina X's. I have been curious about whether a preamp would be a decent improvement. My dealer was kind enough to lend me an ARC LS28SE (list, $10K) to test. The end result is that the LS28SE is slightly better than going direct, but difficult to quantify. My basic unscientific impression was that the soundstage was deeper, and the background more "black," but $10K better? Nope. So my unscientific test leads me to believe that the Discrete's preamp module is roughly comparable to the level of quality of the LS28SE, which is pretty darn good. I would like to try the ARC 6SE to see how much improvement there is, but again, it better be a lot for the cost of the 6SE. I really wanted to try out the Allnic L-7000 but too obscure for me to get a loaner, or maybe the VAC Renaissance Mk V, to see how much those improved the sound. But don't sell the preamp module short. It works very well!

 

[GSOphile]

A Pass XP-22 would also seem to be a good match, especially from a synergy point of view.