High end stereo preamps? Worth it?

Mr. Pass apparently believes there is sometimes a need for a preamp

Yes, and I've also said this, as I said in my second last post when the impedances are mismatched, but I also said 99% of the time this is not an issue. 

 

I doubt he would manufacture the $17,500 XP-32 three-chassis reference preamp if he didn't believe it added something

It can only add coloration/distortion to the sound of the source, I ask you why not hear what the sound of the source is by going direct, then if you don't like it, don't spend $17k to color/distort it. Change it for a better source.
Quote: Ivor Tifenbrun (Linn LP12)
"It all starts at the source get that right and the rest is going to follow"
And I'll add to that get it wrong, and you chase your tail looking for the right preamp to color the problem, as they all sound different.       

I have no interest in a technical debate

Say no more

This threat is unneccesarily long: assuming no highly unusual impedance miss match there is no conceivable reason for a separate preamp in a digital reproduction chain: additional cabling and circuits for no gain (pardon the pun)

This thread is unnecessarily long: assuming no highly unusual impedance miss match there is no conceivable reason for a separate preamp in a digital reproduction chain: additional cabling and circuits for no gain (pardon the pun)

How true, but it’s like talking to the deaf, but there are those that feel the need to color their sound with an expensive bandaid fix by adding a preamp with their added coloration/distortions, because there’s something else they don’t like in their systems when it goes direct from source to poweramp with no preamp. They may as well buy a 4 way tone control like the Schiit Loki. https://www.schiit.com/products/loki

Cheers George