Do I really need a preamp?

Hi Robcentola,
Welcome to this site. You may not be aware that audiogon has a vast archive section. I suggest you type in active preamp vs passive and/or active preamp ve direct source connection. Rob , this topic has been discussed hundreds of times (or close to it) and you will get the same answers from both sides (you'll see). It will depend on the quality the given preamp and other system components. It will also depend on what type of sound you're seeking. There's no one best answer, you'll just have to actually "listen" and decide. Some active preamps are superb and will be an improvement and some will degrade your sound compared to direct connection. It just depends.
Good luck,

Wondering this same thing myself as the benchmark and oppo have pre amp capabilities.

I had to sell my rig because of financial reasons and when I rebuild, I'd like to bypass a dedicated pre amp if possible.

On a side note, my last pre amp was a lightspeed attenuator which I loved very much. It's for sale at tmraudio.com if someone wants one for $200 off and no wait time. No affiliation btw, just tryin to hook up fellow a-gon'ers.

You will have to listen yourself my audio friend. For me a great tube preamp is an absolute must and sets the stage for the whole system and experience. A preamp is not needed in terms of getting sound out of your system, but for many, a preamp is a sound quality must.

"It depends" is the best answer because it involves a lot of
factors including personal preference. Mentioned class D amps are in big
part based on modules that have low input impedance (for many Icepower
modules it is 10k). My class D power amp has additional input stage
increasing input impedance from 10k to 40k. I use it with Benchmark DAC1
direct, with great sound. I believe that additional component in the signal
path will always cause some loss of transparency but often can change
sound to your liking (in addition to impedance matching). No right or
wrong here

Agree with Charles and Granny above (though not necessarily the 'tube' part). ;)

*Having tried few current most highly touted SOTA volume equipped DACs in my, and friends' systems, no matter their stratospheric costs, still clearly benefit from having a 'great' pre inserted in the chain.