Passive preamp to a power amp?

Is there any reason to expect a SQ difference between Saga passive and Sys theoretically? 

Done. Will keep the thread posted. I can’t imagine they’re going to say yes though and potential sell more Sys and fewer Sagas but lets see.

Thinking of going Bluesound Node 2i to Schiit Vidar.

From Schiit:

The saga is much more transparent and causes less potential impedance match issues and includes a remote. sys is really more of a switcher box, while saga is a proper preamp with a resistor stepped attenuator volume control while sys has a simple potentiometer. Saga also has multiple inputs.

@georgehifi

To me nothing sound as transparent and dynamic as going source direct to poweramp, using the source’s digital domain volume control if it has one.

An interesting twist to the last stage of assembling my system. Paul from PS Audio talks about this too and agrees with you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdytsbrzjCA

Why then does anyone use a preamp?

One caveat though, if a digital domain volume control is used below 75% you run the risk of "bit stripping" (resolution reduction)

How then does one control the volume at lower levels?

This is all new information to me and means may I should pool my pre-amp + dac budget and get a nicer dac with a volume control (If I’m understanding right).

Thanks for the eye opening post!

Sounds like I've unwittingly stirred up an old controversy! For my first decent system I don't think I should be too controversial so I'll probably just go Saga and see how it sounds passive vs active.