Do preamps have a material affect on high level sources?


It would seem that a preamp is merely attenuating a DAC output. How can it alter the signal?
If it doesn't degrade the signal, would logic dictate that at best it has no affect.
Help me understand
vjpacor
I went passive a year ago ( Luminous Audio Axiom II, Walker Mod, 3 in, 2 out, single ended ), and never looked back. Enjoy ! MrD.
"...thought up by active preamp makers to aid in their product sales."

Funny to hear this from someone who floods these threads constantly pushing his own passive preamps. Just stick with technical inputs and leave out the editorials.


Only when going direct isn’t possible without "bit stripping" or if the source has no volume control, are passive pre’s the next best in line for transparency and dynamics, and yes that includes my one sunshine.

And not once did I mentioned mine in this thread or the last few months of threads, until you bring it up, and for that I thank you, for doing that and giving me some advertising, one could almost say you were shilling for the Lightspeed Attenuator, keep up the good work sunshine.

Forest and trees, if you can see them.
george, fair point. I should have said "pushing passive preamps" instead of "pushing his own passive preamps". But in your case that makes no difference. Either way, your remark to Ralph was completely unnecessary.  
kalali, you really are a very sensitive person. You comment on so many issues and so many remarks made by posters, and you seem to take things quite personally. Did you have a poor childhood ? Just sayin'. As far as the necessity of a preamp, it would be " system matching " dependent.  No hard feelings here. Enjoy ! MrD/