Best Preamp - NO preamp... (?)

Ami
Hi , this topic has been covered many times on this  forum and as Erik  said,  there's no right answer.  Depends totally on the listener's preferences and numerous audio system variables.  Some people go back and forth between the two choices.  There will never be universal concensus with this matter.  Just go with what sounds best to you at a given time. 

There’s no voodoo in this.
Many times people that try going direct and not liking what they hear, are using the digital domain volume control in the source at too low a level, and are lowering the resolution because they are "bit stripping" eg: 14bit 12 bit ect resolution and even lower.

To make sure that this "bit stripping" is not happening one must use the sources digital domain volume control at or above 75% of full output.
If this is too loud still,, then it should be left at or over 75% and a passive preamp used.

Cheers George

This has been discussed before . Every audiophile worth his salt should try it . It may not better your system to your liking ... then again it might  . They are so cheap its a crime not to try it .

I understand your reaction to bypassing the passive.  It appears you are not substituting anything new but rather just eliminating one link, namely, the passive preamp.  Every signal carrying device has limitations, even if it is just the RCA connecting jacks, input selector switches, and a simple attenuator, and if you can eliminate them chances are there will be a sonic improvement.  Let's also not forget you eliminated one interconnect cable as well.

In my case, I still find a very high quality active preamp best suits my system and sonic priorities.  But I use it with a single set of hardwired RCA input jacks, i.e. no selector switch, and there was a clear improvement in sound quality when I did that.

Thank you all for your thoughts.
I totally get it that it's always a personal preference, and depends on component output level, input gain, and impedance matching.
Some DACs don't even offer a variable gain output so for those it's not even an option.
My amp is a very low power Yamamoto A08S so I use the volume between 70-100% anyway, no 'lost' resolution issues.
Other than the need to match gain or impedance, I find it hard to imagine how having the passive preamp in the signal path can make things 'better'.
It makes the signal pass through additional connectors and IC cable, internal wiring, solder points, input selector, and volume control. The passive preamp I have is considered one of the best you can get at any price point, and removing it from the signal path had such a profound positive impact that I still can't believe it's even the same system. Active preamps should be worse in that regard, no matter how good they are, as the signal travels through many more components. 
I had a friend come over last night, who is very familiar with my system, and he too was shocked what a difference it made, He texted me this morning that he couldn't sleep last night after hearing my system, and is now thinking of selling his excellent gear, and getting the exact same setup as mine. I must be very lucky to find such a perfect match :-)
I still need to check how it works with my phono stage, but my TT is going for service this week. I honestly think that even if it doesn't work well, I will be looking for another phono stage that does work well, and will not even consider putting a preamp back in the system.
Highly recommended everybody - Give it a try! 
:-)