Worth the extra dough to upgrade my preamp?
Wassahhhhp,
So, I have a YS Audio Experience Symphonies Plus Tube preamp which I think is great- especially for the tree-fitty I spent for it on EBay.
http://www.ys-audio.com/sp+.htm
However, I am going to be getting a new DAC next week which has balanced outputs (It is the PS Digital Link III for all interested). The preamp that I am looking at is the bigger brother of the one I already have. It, too, has balanced jacks.
http://www.ys-audio.com/a2.htm
Also, the amp I plan on getting also has balanced inputs- see the pattern here? ha ha Again, for all who are interested, I plan on getting the Parasound Halo A23.
A few questions:
1. Do you dudes think that the upgrade to the balanced A2 preamp is worth the circa $1100 I need to shell out?
2. Is it even worth paying the extra clams for balanced gear? I make my own solid silver audio cables which are relatively unshielded and have never noticed any noise in my system other than minimal noise naturally caused by my tube pre.
(and now....the money shot)
3. What would you all buy if you had $3K for a DAC, pre and amp? If you could suggest new equipment it would make things a little more real since it is readily available.
As always, thanks for your time and expertise,
J