Preamp - what's the purpose?

@arnold_h 

Paul McGowan from PS Audio was always saying “the best preamp is no preamp” and I tend to agree with him.

I ran my DSD DAC directly to my BHK250 power amp.  It sounded kinda flat, and by no means as good as when I ran the DAC through my BHK preamp.  Since I have a turntable and a R2R, I certainly need a preamp, but I just had to try it.  

It is all about system matching.  BUT IMO, preamps do more that what has been already stated above.  A good preamp will add dynamics, loud to soft to loud contract, speed, soundstage dimension - front to back - side to side, tone, separation of vocals and instruments, flow of music, definition, details, clarity, float high frequencies, provide a more beautiful mid-range especially with female vocals, woodwinds, and strings, a more realistic sound, etc.

Happy Listening.

@viridian 

Now that was funny!

I removed my ARC Ref 6SE and put my DCS Rossini APEX straight into my amp…. The loss of dynamics and soundstage was dramatic. I promptly but that experiment to bed.

Been without a pre for over a decade now without withdrawal symptoms, so you might say I’ve survived....sorry ’bout that...Not. *g*

One analog 6x6 matrix, one digital 6x6 includes video & optical, 2 digital eq’s (one for the space, other for whatever)....that’s most of a pre, anyway.

Was gifted with a nice older one ’while back, but looping it in ’proper’ calls for a major physical re-arrange and some more IC spaghetti....

Only been asked once "Why isn’t this up against the wall?"

😒 "C’mere...look...."

"Oh...."

’Puters and amp have their own line cords. all else is low watts & amps on a 3rd line. You can guess the rest...;)