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

PrazVT
PrazVT Posts: 1,607
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.
Dali Optikon 1Mk2
NAD D3020 V2
Schiit Bifrost 2/64

..the rest are headphone setups.
Post edited by PrazVT on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    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 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,607
    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.
    Dali Optikon 1Mk2
    NAD D3020 V2
    Schiit Bifrost 2/64

    ..the rest are headphone setups.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 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!!!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,607
    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)?
    Dali Optikon 1Mk2
    NAD D3020 V2
    Schiit Bifrost 2/64

    ..the rest are headphone setups.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,581
    edited January 2012
    Yes they are worth every penny..
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,607
    edited January 2012
    'nuff said I guess :wink:
    Dali Optikon 1Mk2
    NAD D3020 V2
    Schiit Bifrost 2/64

    ..the rest are headphone setups.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter