Hola. Was hoping for some advice and education. A few weeks ago I was looking for feedback on amp options for a set of sensitive full range horns. After getting some great advice I stuck with an old T-Amp I had in a box. For now, I'm mostly listening to digital media through a Cambridge DACMagic to the T Amp. Unfortunately even this budget setup is showing most of my music files to be complete garbage but hey, you live and you learn.
I know there are pros and cons to this, but I've decided that in the end, I'm going to put together a 300b Tube Amp to drive the speakers and I've more or less decided on the components I'm going to add (probably some kind of kit with a corresponding preamp). Again, I know nothing but the advice I've gotten on here says that these speakers are best driven by a high output impedance amplifier.
Essentially the final setup will be DAC - PreAmp - Tube amp. I have some old records and CDs so eventually a decent turntable and CD player.
My question is, since the Amp is not integrated, what is the best place to start upgrading? Is the Amp the most important component (and the existing DAC can serve as the volume knob) or will upgrading the preamp and using it with the T Amp until I get the scratch together to get the Amp make a huge difference? I've read 5 dozen threads about DACs and I have no idea if I'm any smarter. I'm considering the JDS Labs DAC for 139, all the reviews on that seem to say it's great, but if not that one, where's my bang for the buck?
Along with advice, anyone that feels like giving me a high level education on how those components work together would be appreciated.
