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In Reply to: Emm labs to drive power amp direct? posted by murphys33 on September 20, 2006 at 14:51:47:
First, on the upgrade to SE. I have recently upgraded my DCC2 to SE status and the change was phenomenal from top to bottom. And that was true for phono as well, using a Forsell/Koetsu turntable/cartridge and the Herron tubed phono stage into the DCC2. SACDs and RBCDs from the CDSD to DCC2 were similarly vastly superior.Second, I have Jadis JA-250 tubed monoblocks. I had the highly regarded Jadis JP80-MC preamp for a number of years and an obvious companion to the Jadis amps. I was able to use the DCC2 straight to the Jadis amps, or use it through the JP80-MC preamp. Similarly, I was able to plug my turntable into the Jadis full-function preamp directly, or use the newly acquired Herron as a phonostage powering either the Jadis (using it as a linestage only) or DCC2 (in its pre-SE configuration). I was frankly shocked at how much better the DCC2 was functioning as a linestage going directly to the Jadis amps. There was simply no contest. And I have been a tube roller and tube enthusiast for years (hence my moniker here). Perhaps some of the lushness and warmth is lost, but the additonal transparency and accuracy far make up for that loss--much to my surprise at first. The tubed amps still give me that tube sound I so love--and the tubed phono stage through the DCC2 certainly helped as well.
For the record, I also initially used HMS single ended interconnects between the DCC2 and the Jadis amps with very fine results, I thought. I then replaced them last year with the Jena Labs Pathfinders in balanced configuration--and the difference was ear-popping. How much to attribute to the balanced over single ended or the HMS to the Jena Labs I am not quite sure, but I would guess both had a significant role here.
In conclusion, then, I couldn't imagine wanting to insert another line stage between my DCC2 SE and Jadis amps. Right now, I am still wondering about possibilities of upgrading my original CDSD (which Jonathan Tinn has said was unnecessary) given the comments numerous folks have made about the difference that can make (perhaps especially a firmware upgrade which particularly benefits RBCD performance).
Happy listening!
Bill Tubes
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Follow Ups
- DCC2 SE (upgrade report) plus driving amps directly - Bill Tubes 14:17:44 09/22/06 (0)
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