Preamps. Do we really need them?

There is no such thing as a completely neutral preamp. They all add and/or subtract something from the signal. If we assume that your amplifier has high enough sensitivity and high enough input impedance to be driven by a passive then that is the most accurate source period!! BUT, since digital needs help to sound good who in the hell wants to listen to an accurate portrayal of a digital source? My personal opinion is that the colorations of tube gear make the sound of digital more musical and listenable and yes I have compared countless solid state & tube units against passive control. If you want the most accurate portrayal of the recording go passive. If you want your system to sound more musical-more pleasant-more or less of whatever you want then choose your coloration generator(preamp)to satisfy your personal taste. I recommend TUBES.

I've heard some really good passive systems and some really unimpressive ones. Preampless(?) rigs require very carefull attention to system synergy. Going without a pre-amp is harder, but, can work very well indeed.

It's up to you. I just just started using a Musical Fidelity 3.2 preamp after running the EVS attenuators for over a year. I found that I was missing a lot. The sound is much more open deep,and detailed.

Tim

Timo-

I think you are correct that many preamps add "body" to music, and I'll always have a preamp since I have a system with many sources of varying output levels.

BUT how would a preamp change PRAT? I tend to believe PRAT is source dependent exclusively. If the device spinning flat stuff, whether read by laser or by stylus delivers a signal with good PRAT to the preamp, where exactly in the circuitry does the preamp alter this and how?

Pmkalby, the signal is stored in the buffer, cleaned up and then released as a new signal full of PRAT, you didn't know that?

Dave