"Does an outboard DAC change the sound as much as say a tube pre-amp?"

Well, I can't really say. That depends on how good the tube pre-amp &/or the DAC is. A really good DAC is something you've got to hear to believe. Here's my best example.

Before I installed my Perpetual Technologies gear, my wife wouldn't stay in the room with me for more than 5 minutes at a time when I was listening to CDs. Since I installed the P-1A/P-3A/Monolithic Sound P3 Power Supply combo, she'll listen for 45 minutes at a time. Without me asking for her opinion, she actually told me she LIKES the sound now!

------------------
Lynn Olan Little
lolittle@earthlink.net