Yes, Charles1dad -
"... to each their own."
I was stunned when I brought a demo unit home, a highly vaunted preamp worth $13K or so.
It clobbered the music. We tried and tried to like it, but simply couldn't listen for more than 1/2 hour.
This was running from a PWDII. Didn't try it with the DirectStream, but I am running DS to amp right now. I have an old, simple tube pre that I might try soon, but I don't have high hopes.