Infinite Options.
You can keep it transparent but I like using something with flavorā¦ UNLESS your DAC is going to add something.
This is the sort of thing you want to push through Valencia. I have a Tube DAC from black ice and I was using an Italian QES Class-A headphone amp as my pre and then even with those being low power items running Tungsten or Abyss stuff on it.
Yeah, I kinda want to hear how transparent I can get with my chain despite having an R2R DAC to just try something different. I have a similar speaker setup to your recent Orchard Audio monoblocks youtube video, Mon Acoustic Platimon VC One speakers powered by Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra 2.0 (not the monoblocks). But I power the Starkrimson Ultra with my Supratek DHT preamp running RCA Globe 45 tubes and RCA 6SN7GT smoked glass so Iām hearing in my chain more old-school RCA tonality which is what I really like. The R2R DAC is just the cherry on top to me. I am hoping with the Topping A70 (I recently just bought one), Iāll get a more of a āFuck itā type of system where its just headphones/speakers > Orchard Audio amps > transparent amp > DAC on days where I can say fuck it and just play music.
Hopefully it doesnāt end up being too much of a good thing. Granted that if your DAC and Headphones bring some flavor to the sound then you should be okay.
I am currently listening the Topping A70 Pro as the preamp going to the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra 2.0 and itās looking like it got great synergy so far!
At first, I listened the Topping A70 Pro preamp to the Schiit Rekkr to my Tiny Radials speaker and vocals have some sibilance to them. And my system sounded overall bright.
Then I moved the Topping A70 Preamp to the Orchard Audio Starkrimson 2.0 amp to my Platimon VC One speaker and I donāt really get any sibilance at all. Itās weird, I wouldnāt call this combo bright, I guess the word neutral really fits here. The biggest standout is probably how good dynamics is with the Topping A70 Pro introduced in my main speaker system. I still prefer tubes in my system at the end of the day, 2A3 tubes for maximum resolution or 45 tubes for its lovely tonality.
If Valencia is anything like the Starkrimson amp, the Topping A70 Pro is good preamp under $500 and probably will have good synergy depending what headphone you use. Iām also using a R2R DAC, so I guess thatās something to keep in mind.
Congrats to those who snagged the preproduction units. 
Think there are 2 left. I need to check patreon first. Hereās one person who got it a few days ago and Tungsten today.
2 of the Prototype units are left at $1000 each. I can make them either black or silver.
The enclosures on the prototypes are brushed instead of sandblasted and have some imperfections.
Also, these have the initial circuit boards in them which have the following 2 issues:
All of the prototypes are sold now.
