CD to DAC to Amp?

[RH Clark]

My preamp has failed. I have a B&K ST-140 Amp (70wpc) powering 2 Meadowlark Heron speakers. I've been using a CD player (RCA out) through the now failed preamp. I also have an AUNE X1s 32bit/384 DSD DAC. Can I simply connect my CD player via the RCA inputs through the DAC to my Amp?

Sorry for the noob question. I am trying to educate myself and this seems feasible, but I don't want to destroy my equipment out of ignorance.

 

[ski2xblack]

The AUNE should work fine as a pre, if a bit austere in the features department. Unsure if it passes an analog signal, so you might consider sending a digital output from the CD player. (You will be forced to do that, should the AUNE not even have analog inputs. I didn'tlook close enough to tell.)

 

[RH Clark]

Yes, the AUNE does have analog inputs. I have used it in conjunction with that B&K ST-140 amp and an audio computer that is also currently malfunctioning.

 

[lovinthehd]

Curious, saw your other post on the B&K stuff.....just how have you determined the pre-amp and the computer (don't remember that mentioned before) are the failure points? How did you analyze what unit has gone bad? Have you tested the power amp to make sure it's not the issue?

 

[RH Clark]

Curious, saw your other post on the B&K stuff.....just how have you determined the pre-amp and the computer (don't remember that mentioned before) are the failure points? How did you analyze what unit has gone bad? Have you tested the power amp to make sure it's not the issue?

Yes. I can get sound out of the computer with the DAC. Something is wrong though beyond my knowledge. It boots up every time in safe mode and I can't access some features. I can play some music through it, but it has an annoying intermittent skip. I had the preamp tested by a local guy and it had no signal output and the power supply was getting a lot hotter than it should in just a few minuets.

I got all this equipment from a friend at a screaming deal. I've always wanted high end audio but couldn't afford it. I enjoyed this immensely for a couple years until it failed. I just need to educate myself enough to know what I need to get it back up and running.

 

[lovinthehd]

With many consumer electronics, the repair options are very limited these days. Lack of both support on the parts side as well as lack of qualified people to do the work. Buying used gear does have a potential risk always, tho.