Thank you.
I don’t know how the SP100 works myself but I would bet it doesn’t have a pass through. When it’s off it won’t pass a signal. What amp are you using? If it has multiple inputs, you can split your DAC output and run one line through the SP100 and one line direct to amp. You could also get a switch and accomplish the same thing.
So I set it up today and interestingly, the SP100 does have a passthrough while off, although I wonder if that’s really true because “off” is simply when the switch is powered off, but there is still red LED lightning to indicate the device has power.
Also, while on or off, the volume knob doesn’t actually affect the audio signal, so is this really acting as a pre-amp? I wouldn’t think so.
Even more weirdly, while on, the device is absolutely “working” by coloring the audio signal but I actually started getting fatigue 10min in and found it ultimately to be quite harsh, which is unusual since wouldn’t a tube pre-amp normally be more warm and take the edge off?
When I use the DV in the same way as a pre-amp it’s actually quite nice and I prefer it like this.
Oh sorry, I forgot to mention I’m using a Liquid Carbon X. My signal path is Grace SDAC --> Schiit Loki --> SP100 / DV --> Liquid Carbon X --> HP-3 / Meze 99 Noir / Beyer TYGR 300R
No idea about the internal layout, but a cheap Op-Amp after the tube fed with “dirty” power could cause that.
Would have to get detailed photos of the internals to say for sure.
Quick update: I upgraded the crappy little Chinese stock tube with one of these and the harshness definitely went away. Still not sure how much of the “tubey-ness” I hear; the Carbon X is already a pretty relaxed SS amp so I don’t want to placebo myself, but I do think I hear a tad of it.
It’s nice! Looks cool too.
