Yes, can I set a specific Line-Out signal/voltage to send to my preamp. The -2 has RCA output. Which I would connect to my McIntosh preamp. Hopefully it can output Line Level at a voltage my pre can handle.

And connecting the -2 XLR out to my THX-887 XLR Inputs to use that amp instead of the -2's internal amplifier.

I would be using the -2 as double duty. As a DAC for a Headphone rig. and as a DAC to a Stereo Preamp for two channel listening on my stereo system.

Ok, it's only a misunderstanding about terminology, what you call "pre-function" Is actually called a line out, and all dac/amp combos have one, although not always balanced. That doesn't make the device a preamp, a preamp is what you connect the DAC to.

My post might make not much sense to a owner of a ADI-2. It's the most advanced and option heavy hardware that I've ever purchase for my HP rig. So my questions are noobish in nature.

Why I asked the way that I did was that my soon to be old dac (smsl MK300II) has pre-function. Let me set output voltage. So I am able to connect it to my $$ McIntosh C34V preamp with out risking blowing it up or doing any kind of damage. I'm hoping to do something similar. Right now I can do that safely. It's why I ask if the -2 has this function too. So when I stream for two channel listening from my MacAir to dac to C34 I can send it the signal that the manual for the c34 calls for on it's Analog Inputs.

The title of your post asks one question and the body says a completely different thing. It has balanced and unbalanced analog outputs to be used as a DAC-only, and the equalizer makes it the best DAC out there IMHO. The spectrum analyzer is hypnotic to watch and the VU meter is extremely useful to get an idea of the dynamic range of the source and to get an objective reference of the actual output volume you're getting regardless of the amplification level (because each song has a different volume usually).

But it doesn't have analog inputs to act as a preamp. I don't know what you read that could have given you the idea that it might have.

The amp is as good as an amp could get so you won't ever need a discrete one just for the sake of amplifying for headphones, and it's tightly integrated with the DAC in a way that always keeps a SNR as high as possible.

Finally, and this is an important disadvantage for me, it doesn't have an external analog input to the amp section, which would allow it to be connected to a tube preamp and then back to it's own amp section.

Hope this clarifies what it can and cannot do. Let me know if you have any other questions.

The are great $200 headphones and mind-blowing ones for $1500, you'll have to set a budget so that people can recommend you the best options for that price.

My advice for now would be to rip your CD collection into flacs (or just download them if you can find them in that format, which you will for the most popular titles) so you can listen to them wherever and whenever you want from a PC or phone, having immediate access to every song without having to change the discs. Using a PC will also give you the possibility of equalizing your headphones, which is a huge plus.

If sound quality is not the top priority, comfort and durability should be. The Drop Sennheiser 6XX is supposed to be light and durable. Dan Clark Aeon headphones (including their Drop variants) are also very light and extremely comfortable, but cost a bit more. If you want something cheaper, Sony MDR-7506 is very light and lasts forever.

All of these come with 3.5mm cables that can be adapted for 1/4 inch inputs on stereo receivers.

I tossed them on my bed a few years ago and it was like a few inches I dropped them and had the same break happen. The plastic is cheap and thin as hell, it really is you get you pay for with these headphones.

My CD player is older than many users in this sub. I can relate.

What are you looking to spend? You want closed, to block out the family or open?

Personally I'm a big fan of beyerdynamic. Love their dt770. Well build, really comfortable and well priced at 130 euros. For a 120 more you get their DT700 which resolves a TON more detail but is slightly less warm sounding. With your listening habits I wouldn't go any further.

Another route is to jump on the bluetooth bandwagon. The current sony and bose offerings do allow the use of a cable as well as bluetooth. They cancel ambient noise but are tuned to a consumer sound, bass heavy with little details in the mids and highs.

Put it on if you don't want the lobby complaining about you breathing into the mic.

How much do you want to spend ?

Yes... I'm messaging you.

Come on, haven't you heard of medical benefits of brain tickling, researched by Swiss scientists?

This is the next big thing in audio. Tickle my words kid.

I have no idea, but I watch a dude on YouTube "dankpods" try looking up his YouTube and taking a browse he may be helpful

AHAHAHA NOO, YOUR EARS WILL BE BROKEN 😭

I just crank the volume until guitar solos tickle my brain, no more white noise!

hahaha iya, makasi bang

Oh for me the bass is sufficient enough with the Spring tips, though I couldn't hear audible difference between them and the stock ones.

berarti sebenernya dr post yg lw kasih dan penjelasan nya bukan berarti balanced itu lebih bagus, tapi SE di ifi go blu nya jelek. soalnya kalo emang bagus ya perbedaan antara kedua nya harus nya ga ada kecuali power. di AMP yg bagus ya harus nya ga ada perbedaan si kualitas suara antara dua output ini. tp kalo dijual dengan bilang kalo balanced nya ini bikin suara lebih bagus ya itu dia marketing yg menyesatkan nya. kalo dia bilang SE di unit ini jelek, kan ga ada yg mau beli. berarti suara yg seharus nya di hasilkan oleh unit ini itu di output balanced nya. si SE ini jd cuman jd after thought aja ditaro di situ soalnya 3.5 mm itu termination paling umum. sementara gw pake qudelix 5k dan Fiio K7 gw bisa pastiin kalo dari kualitas suara output SE dan balanced nya ga ada beda nya. gw banyak denger kalo output jack di ifi go blu suka cepet rusak jadi harus hati hati pake nya.

How's the bass when you use spring tips on a rather brighter IEM like B2? They kill the bass too much when I use them with my current IEMs, even on the bassier one like Andro. They are indeed comfortable though, kinda like Sedna.

gw ngerti balanced sm single ended output beda di power doang. nah masalah ny ini bang, ada manufacturers yg bikin 4.4mm output ny lebih bagus drpd yg 3.5mm output. Di forum yg lain jg byk kok yg post kalo yg single ended outputny Go Blu less impressive than the 4.4mm.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ifi-audio-go-blu.25463/reviews

from your name i am assuming you're a chindo and as a fellow country man i will say. kalo lw dibilang saya yg jual balanced bikin suara lebih bagus dll. itu semua boong. balanced cuman ngasih power lebih aja soalnya ampli nya terpisah. jangan mau percaya sama maketing kaya gitu.

ifi products always has an audible noise with sensitive IEMs, and their jack is notorious for breaking pretty early

Yeah, just stop using something so overkill for sensitive IEMs and stop buying noisy amps.

I used large for both stock and Spring tips. Comfort wise, I would prefer Spring tips over the stock ones. Soundstage might be wider on the Spring tips though it might just be a placebo effect.

That too