Yep, you were right... I tried a few different configurations until I ended up with the original setup (HK3270 phono / tuner / preamp feeding Adcom 555 power amp) but with CD carousel SPDIF'ed into TubeDAC and line out from the DAC going into 3270 CD input.

Along the way I tried phono -> HK3270 with Tape Rec Out feeding Line In on the TubeDAC connected as pre-amp... but it didn't sound very good. I realized afterwards that I had played a couple of albums I haven't heard for a while, which was stupid.

Anyways, thanks for the tip about the DAC. I had not really thought of DACs as things with distinct sounds. Digital in -> analog out, how hard can that be ?

Last edited by bridgman; 08/12/17 06:43 AM.

M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39
M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1
LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8