Do I really need a preamp?

Interesting question. I'm a reviewer for stereotimes.com and I've been looking at the recent Benchmark gear. I requested their new AHB2 amplifier for reveiw which was developed in collaboration with THX. It puts out 100Wpc @ 8ohms and 190Wpc into 4ohms and has some of the lowest noise and distortion figures I've ever encountered for an amplifier. It is small and weighs 12.5 pounds (I think) but it is an analog amplifier although it uses a sophisticated switching power supply.

I plan on comparing it to my Rogue Medusa Class-D tube hybrid and my modified Dignity Audio 300B mono amps in another system.

The AHB2 has both standard binding posts and lower noise SpeakON speaker terminals. So I requested that Benchmark send a pair of SpeakON cables so I can hear them too.

Benchmark then volunteered to send their DAC2 HGC because of its very low distortion and because they know it mates well with their AHB2 amplifier. The DAC2 HGC is a small full featured DAC and preamp that features 5 digital inputs and 2 pair of RCA analog inputs as well as 3 analog outputs and a high performance headphone amplifier with 2 volume controlled outputs. It's quite a piece.

All this Benchmark gear is currently being shipped to me and I should have it in my house by the end of the coming week (although the review will take a couple of months to be written and published). I'm very much looking forward to my evaluation of the AHB2 amplifier. It may turn into a joint review with their DAC2. We'll see.

One thing is crystal clear: for the lowest distortion and lowest noise signal path possible the combination of the Benchmark AHB2 amplifier and their DAC2 HGC DSD processor/preamp will be difficult for any other company to match.

I have found it is alot easier incorporating a passive volume control than it is to match a preamp to one's system .To say you need one to get great sound is ridiculous . Go into any recording studio and ask them what preamp are they using and the will show you a microphone preamp. Then you say no i mean the preamp . and they will look at you puzzled . A volume control is all that is needed . There are several on the pro market at all costs . Shiit Audio has one for $50 also .

Robcentola. I agree that it all depends on the system and equipment used and it is also personal taste at times.

Besides the Dsonic you should check out the new amps at NAD and Merrill Audio. One is $3,000 the other is $2,500 I believe, encase you are not aware of them. They both look interesting for the money IMHO.

Oh, I use my Veritas monos direct. But if I spent a lot of money (at least $8,000 and up) on the right preamp I could see were it might bring added enjoyment.

Another interesting amp to check into is the new Ampzilla from Wyred 4 Sound who bought the rights from Spread Spectrum Technologies. I believe it lists for $3000

Go into a studio and see they always have a pre gain stage ,..... Always.
Can certainly get good sound with a passive, no doubt. All about
preferences. No need for the active to be tube....just my preference.