Value of a preamp?

@kmcong ...PS Audio was coming out with their new Stellar Gold Preamp, and I was given the opportunity to beta test one. The improvement was remarkable! Soundstage was wider and deeper, greater detail, just more musical in every way!! And it’s a ss preamp. Your results may differ, but it sure improved my system. And BTW, many who have tried the new Stellar Gold Preamp and compared it to the BHK Preamp (which has a tube input stage) preferred the ss Gold Preamp.

Did you get a look inside the Stellar Gold Preamp by chance? I followed along with the design and designer a bit on this one, and keeping an eye on it into production. There are several stages and various components going on in there, looking inside.

For those who don’t believe a good preamp (adds or removes) anything, take a look inside this one. What I first thought might be a simple preamplifier design, was a very incorrect assumption. Imo, using a DAC with a decent volume control won’t usually hang in the sound department, compared to a system with a really good active preamplifier in the mix. It seems good preamps aren’t totally dead yet.

@carlsbad2 . I concur. It shouldn't change the sound.

@dynalead. Yes. Where would phono be w/o preamplifier.

@cey. I agree systems sound better. I understand designers aim for the elusive straight wire w gain; however, exciting colorations must account for many findings :)

I particularly enjoy the dealer (salespersons) comments; kind of like the old Absolute Sound to which I subscribed and enjoyed :) . Now I prefer amirm - just the facts - as best that human can avoid personal bias - which I think "they" do a pretty good job of. ( I'm thinking a language professor might cringe at my grammar :)  I'm reminded now of the Beach Boys hit, Fun,Fun,Fun  :)