Benchmark equipment is known for it's measured transparency. If the ARC produces "drive and energy" then I suspect that it is "adding" to the signal.The ARC SP17 is far from euphonic and the modern ARC sound is criticised by some for not being euphoric. It’s the drive and energy that the SP17 has over the Benchmark that I like as I have said now a few times in this thread.
I don’t understand your point about using the tape output of the SP17. What do you expect it to do in terms of audio quality? Given that it’s a fixed signal and Benchmark designed the volume control to be optimised in the higher volume range the audio volume is likely to be very loud and unusable.
Top scores for missing the point.9 out of 10 Wammers don't actually bother to read posts properly. They just skim through, carefully managing to avoid the salient points.
Gawd Bless the Wam.
+1. I had a Wyred4Sound DAC that could be used as a pre-amp. I can't put my finger on it but there just seemed something missing. Well ... I suppose the pre-amp was missing! Seriously though the music seemed to lack body.Tried dacs into power amps many times , yes ok but I always go back to analogue pre for musicality. We are all different but seems to make a big difference.
The ARC may or may not be adding something but I find it very hard to believe that every musician/band/orchestra that I tested would be playing with so little conviction and that recordings would have diminished dynamics.Benchmark equipment is known for it's measured transparency. If the ARC produces "drive and energy" then I suspect that it is "adding" to the signal.
Can you not adjust the output level in your DAC2?
Given that I don't have any complaints about my system with pre and power amps in what way would removing the power amp help me?if you open up the benchmark - there should be jumper plug to change the gain to suit - check in your manual as ive got dac 3 not the 2 but suspect they identical.
just remember to discharge the static or you can do damage.
as an experiment - it may work for you
I have no interested in seeking a =n unobtainium theoretical idea of accuracy with my system; I just like music presented how I like it. It's worth trying out other people's ideas though as you might like it. In my case I was surprised that I ended up using ATC speakers. I was also surprised about the positive contribution that the SP17 preamp made in my system.Just looking at this again... and the Innuos, Benchmark and ATC's all have a reputation for being transparent, for telling it how it is. If you were seeking measured and heard accuracy, your "lifeless" (and ARC-less) system would satisfy the brief.
I recall asking on this forum about pre/power combos a few years ago when I though that the flavour of a system would come mainly from the power amp(s). I was gently educated about the overriding importance of the preamp in shaping the sound of a system... and your experience supports this.
Which is nice.
if you remove the power amp then you will get no sound from the speakersGiven that I don't have any complaints about my system with pre and power amps in what way would removing the power amp help me?
Can you point out where that question was asked to me?The ARC may or may not be adding something but I find it very hard to believe that every musician/band/orchestra that I tested would be playing with so little conviction and that recordings would have diminished dynamics.
You didn't answer the question about not using a power amp. Your suggestion is curious given that you appear to be using the analogue outputs of your DAC (that has a preamp) to feed an integrated amp (at least that's what your Wam profile suggests).
Had a friend with some pretty big speakers in a big room . he was running a similar dac into some nice power amps . sounded good , detailed and music was playing . ok+1. I had a Wyred4Sound DAC that could be used as a pre-amp. I can't put my finger on it but there just seemed something missing. Well ... I suppose the pre-amp was missing! Seriously though the music seemed to lack body.
I know. But others do.I have no interested in seeking a =n unobtainium theoretical idea of accuracy with my system; I just like music presented how I like it. It's worth trying out other people's ideas though as you might like it. In my case I was surprised that I ended up using ATC speakers. I was also surprised about the positive contribution that the SP17 preamp made in my system.
Poweramps do make a big difference. I did a comparison at home of Accuphase vs ARC vs Quad and the differences were very large and made a huge difference to the degree that it started to influence speaker choice ie I wouldn't pair Accuphase with ATC SCM11s.
You responded to my point to Tuga about not using a power amp.if you remove the power amp then you will get no sound from the speakers
Did you read what I wrote -has nothing to do with removing power amp
Well you said use tape out to ATC aka don’t use a power amp. I quoted you and asked you a question about your idea and you didn’t respond and I then pointed it out. I think that someone on here said something about people not reading posts properly.Can you point out where that question was asked to me?
All DACs and CD players have an analogue stage. Some have a very "transparent" or accurate one, others one which is "designed" for a particular (euphonic) presentation. I suspect that adding the ARC between a DAC and a power amp will only serve to reduce accuracy (no electronic equipment is truly "transparent") but may in the process produce (listener dependent) euphony or pleasentness. If that's the case then personally I'd rather skip the pre-amp and get an ARC DAC instead.
I suggested that you remove the volume control to determine whether this was a potential reason for the ARC sounding "better" to your ears.
no - I was responding to your original point about lack of dynamics/drive when using benchmark dac as a pre ampYou responded to my point to Tuga about not using a power amp.
As your not that far away both myself and wizmax could probably pop over sometime with our pre amps, 1 passive and the other ss active for you to try in your system.Wouldn’t mind trying a good pre amp in my system, as currently have the Wadia 861 direct into the power amps.