[dnewman]

Jim, and others,

Is there any reason why a Chime's pre-amp section cannot do double duty
as a generic pre-amp?  If I replaced the select switch with a three pole switch
with two poles passing left and right analog signals to the pre-amp and the third
pole either passing ground or a digital input to the HagDac, then shouldn't I be able
to transform a Chime into a DAC + generic pre-amp?  Of course, I'd have to provide
good shielding on the analog inputs at the back of the Chime since with the "classic"
buildout, they'd land uncomfortably close to the mains inlet....

Anyhow, just pondering the possibilities as I always look to save space in my
modest home.

Cheers,
Dan

P.S. For those unclear on the wiring of the select switch, it would go
something like this

Switch
Position	Pole 1	Pole 2	Pole 3
1	S/PDIF 1 to DAC	DAC raw right to pre-amp	DAC raw left to pre-amp
2	S/PDIF 2 to DAC	DAC raw right to pre-amp	DAC raw left to pre-amp
3	USB to DAC	DAC raw right to pre-amp	DAC raw left to pre-amp
4	Ground to DAC	Analog 1 right to pre-amp	Analog 1 left to pre-amp
5	Ground to DAC	Analog 2 right to pre-amp	Analog 2 left to pre-amp

[hagtech]

The one problem is that gain is way too high.  The tube section is a great sounding amplifier, but at 30dB, it's too much for a linestage.  For example, you'd have to attenuate your typical line level signal 1V or 2V down to 100mV before it hits the gain stage.  Doesn't make sense from a system standpoint.

Another way to look at it.  If you fed in a line level signal into the volume control, you'd never get past 9:00.

jh

[dnewman]

Ahh, yes once upon a time I knew the gain was 30 dB.  Yup, too much gain
for doing double duty as a generic pre-amp.  (Nice GBW, btw.)  Now, let's
see with a 5 or 7 pole switch, I could switch out various resistor combinations.... 

Thanks,
Dan