Where to place the 'better' interconnect. SB -> Pre? or Pre -> Amp?

PrazVT
PrazVT Posts: 1,606
edited January 2012 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Right now, system is as such:

SB Touch -> DacMagic is using Signal Silver digital coax
DacMagic -> Pre is using Signal Silver ICs
Pre -> Amp is using Signal Analog 2 ICs (5 of 'em)

Speaker wire is Signal Ultra bi-amp.

I have two things on their way right now...

The Pangea P-100 PSU upgrade for the Dacmagic, and a pair of Kimber Hero ICs. Just one pair b/c I couldn't find any on Audiogon and that's all I could stomach $$-wise after the recent speaker purchase.

My gut says place the Heros from DAC -> Pre since that's where the initial signal's coming from. What do you guys think?

- Praz.
ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

Home Theater:
KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

2 Channel:
Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
Post edited by PrazVT on
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Comments

  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited January 2012
    I find sources benefit more with good cables than pre to amp, so I agree use them on the Dac to Pre.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,197
    edited January 2012
    PrazVT wrote: »

    My gut says place the Heros from DAC -> Pre since that's where the initial signal's coming from. What do you guys think?

    - Praz.
    thsmith wrote: »
    I find sources benefit more with good cables than pre to amp, so I agree use them on the Dac to Pre.

    I agree. When I had just one set of MIT Shotguns and one set of MIT Terminator II's, I put the Shotguns from the dac to pre. Now I have another set of Shotguns to replace the T2's from the pre to amp.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited January 2012
    Thanks for the input / confirmation guys.

    H9 yah, I plan to add another pair to the pre -> amp chain in another month (for the mains), but to start with wanted to make the best use of the first pair.
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited January 2012
    I asked this exact question of Joe at MIT some time ago and he was pretty clear that the best IC goes at the source first and downstream from there.
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited January 2012
    I asked this exact question of Joe at MIT some time ago and he was pretty clear that the best IC goes at the source first and downstream from there.

    Good to know!

    Speaking of MIT ... how are the Shotgun S3s? I read they're warm as far as speaker cables go. Worth the $$ (used of course)?
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,311
    edited January 2012
    Yes they are worth every penny..
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited January 2012
    'nuff said I guess :wink:
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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