High end stereo preamps? Worth it?

There isn't a preamp that's built into a dac that's even close to a good high-end preamp. I have a SIM audio p8 and I haven't heard any preamp built into a dac that comes close. But then how can you compare the preamp inside the dac to a $15,000 preamp, that's a pretty unfair comparison.

There isn't a preamp that's built into a dac that's even close to a good high-end preamp.

That's because they're far more transparent and dynamic, because there is no preamp, and all the volume controlling is done in the digital domain, just have to watch out for "bit stripping" using it at or above 75%.

Cheers George

In a blind test no preamp can improve upon no preamp.

In a blind test no preamp can improve upon no preamp.

That one needs to be etched in stone, as another great audio saying.
Just like "it all starts at the source, get that right and your almost there" (Ivor Tiefenbrun Linn Sondek)

Cheers George

Give Prima Luna  a look.  It was a noticeable immediately.  So much so, I thought there may have been something wrong in the preamp it was replacing...Wasn’t the case, It just sounded wonderful...