Who needs a Preamp??

itsjustme +1

The title of this thread motivated me to bypass my dac/pre

My Oppo 105 V V C sounds a whole lot better after I upgraded the IEC to one on Ebay that includes a heavy gauge silver wire harness. I further improved the sound when I replaced the OEM power module to one with a large toroid and superior parts. And while that made a quantum SQ jump it was when I upgraded my 1.0m XLR cable to WireWorld series 8 and replaced my AA DPA-1 with Ric Schultz EVS 1200 (newest IcePower dual 600w modules), which he then tweaks, that has me wondering whether a preamp is needed: I love this amp!.

Since bypassing my Audio Alchemy DDP + PS 5 power supply preamp a few days ago (not chump change), which I bought to play Redbook via my Marantz HD CD 1), I have listened primarily to SACDs, but 2 days ago I tried Redbook again. So far so good- very good, in fact. It seems that eliminating a power cord, and various digital cables (and another source with its PC and digital cables) can’t hurt WHEN the source has been, or is, improved
hth

Passive pre-amps have definitely made my system sound worse.  Using no pre-amp with my CD playe,  tuner, and even XM Polk radio was worse, and that is far from great anyway. A far as the electronics and physics involved, please inform me.  I am curious.  I can understand the tuners, because a switch bypasses the probably crappy gain control, and I can understand that my electronics could be better than the passive pre-amps I tried, but no pre-amp with the CD player?

One of the best improvements I made to my system was getting rid of a Conrad Johnson preamp after buying a Lampizator big 7 DAC with a volume control. Removing the preamp lifted a hazy veil and allowed crisper dynamics in more detail. It also put two grand in my pocket after selling the preamp. 

Good move. I made a similar move 30 years ago. Never look back. Something might be gaining on you! 

I was forced to temporarily use my Ayre Codex as a preamp when my CJ preamp went up in smoke (my fault, trying to improve the power supply).
The sound was listenable. I have also listened to vastly more expensive and better DACs (DCS) used without preamps. The sound is always lifeless and flat, the opposite direction from my beloved vinyl and true musical enjoyment - no moments of getting lost in the music. There are reasons, beyond simple controls that every truly outstanding system I have heard utilize a preamp. I believe only theoreticians and misers skip the preamp.