@carlsbad2 “…My summary of this thread would be that there are 2 camps, one likes adding a preamp, and one doesn’t..”
I get a different take all together. It seems there is consensus that most of the time a real preamp is required, it can be built in, or separate, or the music looses some really important characteristics. While there are exceptions… generally very high end, they are that… exceptions.
This brings up the problem to those assembling systems… especially if they are not auditioning extensively along the way. You put together a system without one and you don’t know what you are missing. And this missing stuff is often the most important stuff… what allows you to enjoy the music vs the system. So, without a preamp you often get amazing detail but somewhat flat lifeless presentation. This is a recipe for listening to the guy in the third row of the symphony move his foot as opposed to getting lost in the music you are listening to.
Us old times tried this by removing their preamp, so had the advantage of noticing the difference… then for whatever reason put it back in. Folks these days my never put one in.