If I just use a DAC, do I need a Pre-amp?

I am buying a DAC with a volume control in July, the AudioByte Vox setup. One of the pieces in that 3 unit stack is not yet available. After many years of using a DAC direct and also with a BAT VK-42SE preamp. I found the addition of the preamp beneficial.

Yesterday, I bought the Benchmark HPA4 preamp + headphone amp to connect to my future DAC. Not sure if this is to be believed but some reviewers were stating that the addition of this preamp made the DAC sound even quieter than direct DAC to amp. I shall see when this unit arrives in a few weeks.

Preamps are for volume controls and switching between source.

Some add things like filters, tone controls or extra gain for phono sources. 

Preamps typically introduce a particular sound of their own. Some might like to use a preamp for that alone


If you don’t need any of this things you are good to go.

Luminous Audio makes a passive preamp with a volume control that is not in-line with the signal. It works great, trouble free, and it does not change the sound. You can add inputs and outputs and selector switches as desired.

Not sure if this is to be believed but some reviewers were stating that the addition of this preamp made the DAC sound even quieter than direct DAC to amp.

Who ever said this is yanking himself, because it’s impossible, unless there was a grounding problem.

Nelson Pass,

“We’ve got lots of gain in our electronics. More gain than some of us need or want. At least 10 db more.

Think of it this way: If you are running your volume control down around 9 o’clock, you are actually throwing away signal level so that a subsequent gain stage can make it back up.

Routinely DIYers opt to make themselves a “passive preamp” - just an input selector and a volume control.

What could be better? Hardly any noise or distortion added by these simple passive parts. No feedback, no worrying about what type of capacitors – just musical perfection.

And yet there are guys out there who don’t care for the result. “It sucks the life out of the music”, is a commonly heard refrain (really - I’m being serious here!). Maybe they are reacting psychologically to the need to turn the volume control up compared to an active preamp.”

Luminous Audio makes a passive preamp with a volume control that is not in-line with the signal.

That’s just uses a series fixed resistor with a pot shunted to ground, best is is a series/shunt ladder as it gives far better input impedance consistencies.
http://diyaudio.co.kr/wwwboard1/data/board1/compare.pdf

Cheers George

I tested my system last year as you are considering.  In my case I preferred the system with the preamp.  In my case the DAC was a NAD M51 and the preamp is an Aesthetix Calypso.  I was considering eliminating the Calypso.  The Calypso has the best fit/sound in my system.  So much so that I sent it in to Aesthetix for their Signature upgrade last fall which has proven worth the money for my system.  Maybe I would have felt differently had I selected a better DAC.