I'm looking for a digital pre amp, in my search I've stumbled on some devices of which the DMP-a6 G2 tick most boxes on paper. In short I want the a device which has: - Digital inputs Coax and ARC, (SA)CD, BD player and TV. - Analog out, (unbalanced is fine). - Volume control and limiter setting. - Support for streaming services. - 12V trigger out for turning on the amp. Streaming will likely be one of the lesser used functions of the devices. My preference is physical media or live shows on YouTube. This brings up the question "how good is the DMP-a6 G2 as a pre amp?"
I have A6 first generation and used it a short time as pre amp via XLR in front of a audiophonics ncore power amp. It`s okay. But my RME ADI-2 DAC FS is in fact much better. And it has a fantastic headphone amp too. So I use the Eversolo only as transporter for streaming, signal via SPDIF to the RME and from RME with XLR out to the power amp. That is - for my ears - the best solution and the best setup I ever had. Take a look at the RME shelf if streaming can be left out.
Well heres the issue, 12V trigger out and HDMI are a must. And besides some Mcintosh, Matrix Audio, HiFi Rose multiple thousand dollar units. The DMP A6 g2 seems to be the only one that ticks those boxes. Well theres also the Fosi ZD3, however that has no volume limiter. And since the GF will be using it as well, thats no option. Then theres the Cocktail Audio N-25, but that lacks 12V trigger outputs. Other option is a basic surround receiver with trigger and pre outs. But having another huge black box with a calculator display is not my preferred option.
Hmmh, IMHO you get especially as PreAmp, that you'll pay for. Also the bigger DMP-A8 is for a lot of people not a good preamp and the DMP- A6 (owning a Gen1 and Gen2) is for me primarily a streamer and not a preamp (here is also the handling not perfect). Matrix Audio Element i2 is here IMHO better, but without a trigger out (often you can also use the USB out for triggering, but then it should not be active in standby mode). Others like products from Goldnote (very nice DAC with a complete PreAmp) are to expansive for you, Primare SC15 MkII has no ARC, but a hot candidate for you could be the coming https://luxsinaudio.com/products/luxsin-x9 Price around $1000... p.s. ARC or HDMI is IMHO not a must, because you can use in the most cases a HDMI extractor with a SPDIF or I2S output.
