dCS Debussy as preamp

the dCS are actually pretty good at volume control in the context you're considering...if you were to spend another 5-10k on preamp, you might prefer "some" things the preamp does..but likely not all. The most transparent sound usually comes from the dCS straight to the amps...

I"ve owned a Puccini and now Scarlatti. I've mostly used a preamp...but I had a top flight preamp on hand...

I have considered getting the DCS Debussy and feeding it straight to active speakers but I read on stereophile that activating preamp function of the Debussy does not show its best side so did not make the purchase. It's less of a money issue but more of a convenience thing for me. I have no analogue sources! I went for a Total DAC instead. Sure it is not anywhere near as sleek but....
Consider perhaps the MSB analog DAC? I think it is around the same price and it is just as sleek.

Wonderful_electric, USB-input on MSB-technology DACs is not good.

Jfrech, I have heard dCS Scarlatti and its built-in volume control I liked. How the volume control of Scarlatti compared to Debussy?