Best Preamp - NO preamp... (?)

Thanks for your input czarivey,
Fortunately, my power amp is so gorgeous looking with it's Japanese cherry wood finish, that I have it on the top shelf of my rack (also for better heat dissipation of course :-). Therefore, changing the IC cables is very easy and convenient. I don't even have to bend.
My DAC has only one output, and all I did is disconnect it from the preamp input, and hook it up directly to the power amp, so I was using the same active line stage in both cases.
I don't understand how adding another active component in the signal path can make things better, but i'm always open to learn and experience.
I tried a few highly regarded preamps before, and my passive outperformed them all.

Hi Ami, congratulations on a sound decision of running a high quality digital unit directly to your amplifier,  I've been doing this since 1996!,  of course this setup is opinionated, however,  those that believe going through another circuit board such as a active pre-amp likely does not have a truly balanced,  direct point to point wiring digital unit with a high quality volume control that has wide band specifications like 10htz to 60khtz or more,  this has extraordinary clarity and realism,  musicality, no color added that all preamplifier's  add! Cheers 

Some systems need help in getting the sound right . Speakers may be lacking in a department and the pre fills in the sonic virtue needed . Only way to tell is try . 

Hi Ami.
Since I have the same DS dac you have, perhaps I can shed some light.
First I have to give a dealer alert, since I sell the Ps line.
while the DS happens to have an extremely transparent volume, and it does sound great in my system, a top preamp will enhance your sound and enjoyment.
If one has a less than stellar pre amp, then yes the DS direct might in fact be preferable. But running the DS at less than full output (or with the -20db attenuator) is a compromise.
The preamp I’m running is a $15k all tube two box unit, but there is a stellar option at almost 1/3’rd the price.
Paul at Ps has stated that their new BHK preamp sounds much better than the DS direct.
In fact Bascom king has stated that it is the best preamp he has ever designed. And his other designs are super expensive. His hybrid design actually varies the level of tube gain as well as attenuate, so it’s a novel and very transparent approach.
While I haven’t gotten one in our system yet, having the BHK 300 Mono amps in our system, I can assure you that Bascom teamed up with Ps’s value driven aesthetic means these electronics, while not cheap, represent edge of the art sound at real world prices.
If you’re serious about building a world class system, (and you have an world class source in the DS- and one that keeps getting better with each new OS release) you need an active preamp (not a passive unit)
Also going balanced will help and means that even cheap cables can work extremely well.  
If you're ever in the NYC Area I can demo the DS direct vs. Through a great preamp.  Triode picture sound.