Which Dirac able preamp for Purifi 1ET7040SA DM Lux Dual Mono Amplifier?

[Michael K.]

Hello,

I ordered my Apollon power amp a couple of days ago and am now thinking about my preamp setup.

The following models are options, since I want Dirac and BluOS:

NAD C399 (my current amplifier)
Bluesound Node Icon (have one from a previous setup)
NAD C658

My gut is saying keep the C399, but it doesn't have XLRs .. are they really needed?

What and why do you guys think would be the best fit?

Thanks for your input

 

[Redacted]

My gut is saying keep the C399, but it doesn't have XLRs .. are they really needed?

XLRs are better connectors, and if correctly used carrying a differential signal will reject more noise pickup, they're measurably better - pretty much mandatory for long cable runs on stages and in studios.

But, with a short run of standard (but not crappy) "phono cable", running at nominal line-level and using RCA connectors you will not be able to discern any difference, so long as you A-B test with careful level-matching. Most home-users will nevertheless spend more on XLR because the marketing uses words like "Studio" or "Pro". If you already have XLRs at both ends, using them is a no-brainer.

An important thing is to make sure the sensitivity of a power-amp's input(s) are correctly matched to output of the pre-amp.

 

[staticV3]

I'd buy a NAD C 658 or Onkyo P-80, for the option of adding subwoofers with Dirac Live Bass Control.

Don't sleep on this.
If you have the chance, adding subs will improve sound quality like nothing else.

 

[Michael K.]

I'd buy a NAD C 658 or Onkyo P-80, for the option of adding subwoofers with Dirac Live Bass Control.

Don't sleep on this.
If you have the chance, adding subs will improve sound quality like nothing else.

My speakers go down to 21 Hz. When I watch the Accountant using my Yamaha RX-A 2080 (timecode around 16:00 minutes) and he fires his three training shots, my sofa shakes ... I would only add a subwoofer for movies. For listening to music I've always been strictly 2.0 ;-)

 

[Gregm]

My speakers go down to 21 Hz. When I watch the Accountant using my Yamaha RX-A 2080 (timecode around 16:00 minutes) and he fires his three training shots, my sofa shakes ... I would only add a subwoofer for movies. For listening to music I've always been strictly 2.0 ;-)

Hi - The subs suggestion isn't aimed at achieving "earthshaking" deep bass. It goes for better bass intelligibility within the confines of a listening room -- minimising room modes etc -- so you can actually *hear* the bass your speakers produce.
If everything is already bass cool, ignore the comment

 

[Michael K.]

Sorry, now I get it ... Dirac does a good job taming my bass. Never thought about a sub the way you pointed out. Sounds interesting.

 

[Ruediger]

My speakers go down to 21 Hz.

Mine too, but the curve to that point says it's no good beyond paper.

That's where subwoofers come in.