Bloody hell, after much hesitation, I decided to join and ask!
I'm planning to buy an integrated amplifier this time, but it's an amplifier that combines both the preamp and power amp stages without a built-in DAC. It only has a pair of L/R speaker output terminals, Stereo Balanced XLR inputs, Stereo Balanced XLR inputs for AV Bypass, and Stereo Unbalanced RCA inputs.
1. What's the best way to input a DAC into this integrated amplifier? Is there a noticeable difference in sound quality between Balanced XLR and Unbalanced RCA inputs?
2. There's a DAC with separate "DAC out" terminals and "Line out" terminals. If I connect the "Line out" from another DAC or streamer to the integrated amplifier via XLR, will that allow me to bypass the preamp stage of the integrated amplifier?
I'm planning to buy an integrated amplifier this time, but it's an amplifier that combines both the preamp and power amp stages without a built-in DAC. It only has a pair of L/R speaker output terminals, Stereo Balanced XLR inputs, Stereo Balanced XLR inputs for AV Bypass, and Stereo Unbalanced RCA inputs.
1. What's the best way to input a DAC into this integrated amplifier? Is there a noticeable difference in sound quality between Balanced XLR and Unbalanced RCA inputs?
2. There's a DAC with separate "DAC out" terminals and "Line out" terminals. If I connect the "Line out" from another DAC or streamer to the integrated amplifier via XLR, will that allow me to bypass the preamp stage of the integrated amplifier?