Best Preamp - NO preamp... (?)

@geoffkait and how about a speaker switcher unit for better kicks?

My new preamp has has improved the sound of my amp by leaps and bounds. No question that using a preamp in this case is an improvement.

https://www.lineartubeaudio.com/#home

lancelock
My new preamp has has improved the sound of my amp by leaps and bounds. No question that using a preamp in this case is an improvement.

Fair enough, your new pre sounds better than your old preamp, goes to prove no two pre’s sound the same, just like none can sound like the fabled "strait piece of wire"

But direct source to power amp is, and will sound like a "strait piece of wire", because guess what? that’s what it is!!
If you don’t like it that way, many don’t, it’s because you DON"T like the sound of your source!!.
Better change it and save $4,450, instead of putting a band-aids on it with different sounding preamps.
Put the $4.5k towards a better front end source with built in volume control ability, then revel in the dynamic transparency direct source to poweramp can give you, once you’ve heard it this way with a source you like, there’s no going back to an active preamp.

And that’s why we have this thread called,
" Best Preamp - NO preamp... (?) "

Remember your hifi system all starts with the source.
"To quote a famous saying. It all starts with the source, get that right and your 1/3rd the way there, if not, it's a never ending battle to get the truth."

   
Cheers George

@geoffkait in the beginning, god created 2. Then the devil spiced things up by creating the ménage à trois. 

@georgehifi  +1
Since I opened this thread almost 2 years ago, I have had the chance to audition a few other preamps in the loop, just to amuse my audiophile friends who insisted 'But you haven't heard XYZ preamp yet... it will take your system to another league...'
These included the PS Audio BHK signature preamp, and top-of-the-line ARC and CJ, among a few less known brands, mostly >$10K units, all with rave reviews by leading magazines, and in this forum...
The $6K PS Audio BHK signature was the only one that came close to having no preamp at all, but still a clear second best.
All but 2 (one who uses only an analog source, and one who will never admit to be wrong) of these skeptics, that brought their 'holy grail' preamps for audition, ended up selling them shortly thereafter, and getting the PS Audio DSD DAC with Bridge II, and the DMP transport as a digital source... ;-)