Whats the ultimate goal with your pre amp ?

The preamp is often called the heart of the system. I have always reached for the best possible preamp for my systems. This has always worked well.

Putting a lower level component within the signal path will never help. You have to go to really crazy levels to have a preamp “too good”. Typically mine have been the most expensive components in my system.

‘’You can see my system under my used ID. I used to have all Pass designed components. Now I have all Audio Research.

My thoughts exactly….    Even my earliest systems had the best preamp I could afford.  My last integrated amp was a Sansui AU 9900. That was replaced by an Apt Holman and Apt 1 amp.   
 

Since then when upgrading electronics and it’s tie for a new preamp I will always stretch my budget   
 

I have had some pretty modest systems that sounded like a new set up thanks to a great preamp.   The DAC with volume camp does not know what they are missing. 
 

@arcticdeth 

±1

The Sanders is indeed all that, exquisitely neutral. AND it answers the OP query - control. It does that better than any others that I have seen. Two (!) loops and mono on remote control.

I prefer the older line stage which favors independent choice of phono pre or abandonment of same. 

Selecting sources, volume control and presenting the signal to the amplifier is the role of the pre-amp.

In my experience the pre-amp is very important on the quality of sound.  I introduced a quality pre-amp to an integrated amplifier and it improved the detail and dynamics (perhaps it didn't 'color or degraded' the signal to the amp).