amplifier with volume control

Many thanks. I'm going to try an amp with the volume control built in (my tech has an amp for sale with this).  This is a passive configuration and I would hope that, all things being equal, that having the attenuator built into the amp would be an improvement over a separate passive box with the additional interconnect.   After I try this I do intend, based on the comments in this thread, of auditioning an active preamp and comparing to the direct connection.  My only experience with active preamps is with an audible illusions and sonic frontiers anthem, neither of which impressed me - in other words I have never owned a high quality preamp.  There were several comments here that there are active preamps that maintain the transparency of a passive  while  of course adding dynamics. Which are they - I know the 2 I owned did not. Thanks again. 

I would hope that, all things being equal, that having the attenuator built into the amp would be an improvement over a separate passive box with the additional interconnect.

Nope. Bypassed many an input level control in studio amplifiers because they are redundant and color the sound.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride

I keep forgetting that if you have a cheap passive with some suspect pot, all bets are off.

In the studio I used channel matched Penny & Giles. Don't recall the cost but it was a lot.

For my last HiFi stepped passive built a few years back, silver contact switches, precision, matched low inductance resistors, high quality internal interconnect and top flight connectors.

I used to be the one US dealer for the British TVC company Music First. Transformer Volume Control done to a high level with Stevens and Billington transformers. The Reference-$18k, Baby Reference-$8k and Silver-$10k are excellent. Especially the Silver. Surely, the transparency and clarity are superb. The Reference tranny uses about a mile of copper wire!
However, now use a top line Atma-Sphere MP-1. There is no comparison between great TVC and great active. The best TVC sounds threadbare. Only a great active preamp creates great music.

The best TVC sounds threadbare.
The Music First Reference tranny uses about a mile of copper wire!

And that’s the problem with TVC’s the mile of thin wire, they ring are coloured to the max, nowhere near transparent, even less transparent than active preamps.
A good passive kills them, and direct source to amp is even better, if they aren’t "bit stripping"

Cheers George