Running DCS Vivladi DIRECT?

@folkfreak

Yup - ARC preamps tend to add depth to the Soundstage. I have heard the difference myself on an ARC Ref 6. I think the tubes do it as my Mcintosh tube preamp does the same vs SS. I know there is added harmonics (in minuscule quantity with ARC) and McIntosh is even more lush or warm than ARC. At the end of the day it is what works for the listener - lose some resolution but gain some musicality!

One quick addendum (albeit from audio memory)

I previously noted a difference between the balanced and single ended outputs on the Vivaldi and my preference for single ended. The difference manifest as somewhat of the same sense of compression and homogenization noted in the direct so perhaps this is largely a function of how dCS have implemented the balanced output (perhaps another amplification stage). 

I did not see any difference in soundstage however between the two connections when going via the amp -- so as @shadorne suggests perhaps that is an (artifact) of the pre-amp 😏

Folkfreak. 
 Thanks for taking the time to post your well written listening impressions. Given the description of what you heard I can understand your preference. I would make the same choice.  I'll always prefer the more involving and emotionally engaging component. 
Charles 

Well written and explained, your plus’s for going direct are all expected improvements, especially the transparency reference (ability to distinguish artificial reverb).
Any negatives are possible the result of the source it’s self, or maybe the type of interconnects used as there is 10mt per side of it and any character it has will be magnified by that length, WEL Signature interconnect is silver, and to me silver interconnects can have a cold quality to the mids/highs but is great for tightness of bass.
I use it on the bass but for mids and highs I use ofc cooper.
But it’s with the preamp that lets you relax into the music more then it’s the colouration you need to counter any negatives.

Cheers George

“I use it on the bass but for mids and highs I use ofc copper.”

george, are you referring to the ICs or speaker cables? Just intrigued on how you route the bass and the treble separately between the components. By the way, my (limited) experience with speaker cables is consistent with your remarks about silver being a bit drier sounding than copper.