Only my personal opinion, but all three. I've heard differences in every amp or DAC I ever used. Though with modern good ones, they tend to be negligible.
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
What has the biggest effect in sound profile Pre a/Amp, Amp, or DAC?
- Thread starter Chanur
- Start date
Only my personal opinion, but all three. I've heard differences in every amp or DAC I ever used. Though with modern good ones, they tend to be negligible.
- Thread Starter
- #62
I think I am fully on board with getting a class D amp when originally was planning an A/B.
Does anyone have any experience with Buckeye vs Orchard Audio vs Peachtree? Right now looking at the Buckeye and Orchard Monoblocks vs a Peachtree stereo amp. I assume they are all neutral sounding?
Does anyone have any experience with Buckeye vs Orchard Audio vs Peachtree? Right now looking at the Buckeye and Orchard Monoblocks vs a Peachtree stereo amp. I assume they are all neutral sounding?
tineared
Addicted to Fun and Learning
I have a Buckeye ET-400A and when I am ready to buy more amps (I have many old ones) I will be buying from Buckeye again.
I have no experience with the other two, but you can't do better than Buckeye in quality or price so long as you don't require your amps to be eye candy
- Thread Starter
- #64
They will probably go into a cabinet, so while eye candy certainly is appealing it's not really necessary here.
Probably different modules in the different brands (Hypex/Purifi for Buckeye, think Peachtree has used several different ones over the years/models (but usually don't look at Peachtree, tend to be overpriced IMO), not familiar with Orchard. I'd buy from Buckeye without hesitation.
RexrothPigeon
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2025
- Messages
- 1,104
- Likes
- 2,243
D
Deleted member 92621
Guest
You'll want to use something other than the built in streamer. It is unsupported garbage. I got rid of my SHD for this reason and reminded myself once again why all-in-one (or nearly so) should be avoided. It was an okay device when used with an external streamer but that defeated the purpose
Audionaut
Major Contributor
It's unsatisfactory when a relatively expensive device fails to perform one of its core functions.
I haven't had any problems with the WiiM Ultra so far.
It's small, has a display, is a preamplifier, DAC, and streamer, and, except for phono, has very good measurements.
Everything works, and the Linkplay team is constantly developing it further, which is a big benefit.
You can use it as a subwoofer crossover, it measures the room and independently measures and corrects latencies, etc. It costs around €400 and all you need is a power amplifier of your choice or you can buy the Ultra Amp if the amplifier power is sufficient for your needs.
I don't know why you would recommend anything else to someone in 2026, unless you want a different design or are determined to spend more money.
For me, the WiiM Ultra was a game changer and my entry into stationary streaming and multiroom in combination with three WiiM Minis.
I don't know the minidsp from my own experience, but I am more than satisfied with the WiiM devices, so I don't agree with your statement.
Svend P
Addicted to Fun and Learning
How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?
I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...
www.audiosciencereview.com
D
Deleted member 92621
Guest
The Wiim seems to be a pretty good device. My personal experience has often been that one function eventually fails, is no longer supported, or becomes outdated, and I'm back to unpacking the all-in-one one to different devices. That doesn't always happen (I'm quite happy with the many functions that my cell phone handles)
- Thread Starter
- #71
So given that these things don't really make a difference, the Marantz 40n and Stereo 70s should sound the same in blind testing? The difference being build quality and features?
Same thing with a Marantz 40n vs a Stereo 70 with an external amp?
Same thing with a Marantz 40n vs a Stereo 70 with an external amp?
Generally how that works.
Multicore
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2021
- Messages
- 4,438
- Likes
- 5,677
If the preamp has tone or loudness controls or EQ then that. Yamaha A-Sn01 for example.
The most important things in order are (ignoring the recording quality):
Speakers, room/bass management and tone controls to compensate for bad tonal balance in recordings.
Anything else that changes the sound is simply defective in my eyes.
We are not making music here, we are playing back recordings.
I gave my studio amps to a friend the moment I went with active speakers and never looked back.
Luckily fully transparent equipment is cheaper then ever, especially for stereo.
If you think you heard differences in every amp or DAC you ever heard, this is probably due to not level matching properly.
It is a way bigger factor then most people expect.
There is zero reason to take my word for it, we can simply record them and play back the difference:
Wanted to give you a serious response, not much more I could add to this though.
I am happy the OP asked here and a pleasure to read all the proper advice!
Similar threads
