Romulus CD player--

Bill,
I know you've tried the Lightspeed as well as other passive units.I recall a couple of years ago you preferred the April Music DAC direct source to amplifier over the TRL DUDE in your system. No one can say you didn't try your best to get rid of the active preamp. After all of that the active tube preamp is back. Without the full true tone and dynamics the music ultimately sounds incomplete, just listen to live acoustic instruments(color,body,harmonic richness, i.e. life and emotion).Bill I give you credit, you sure did try your best to abolish your preamp.
Charles,

What's interesting Charles is I thought I liked the DP1 DAC direct more than going through my Dude preamp and made the worst audio decision of my life. I learned that sounding different (change) can often be appealing at first - for a time.

After a couple of months I missed the music and longed for my Dude. I had to go through the time and expense of buying another Dude. Once the Dude was in, the music was alive again. I think change can fool folks as it fooled me for a season.

I respect what all of you are saying about running direct or not, useing an active pre-amp, I will say, their is rare instances that a componet running direct to an amp is better than an active pre-amp, and on the most part all of you are correct, and should trust your own ears, one rare componet long ago that sounded better running direct to amps versus a seperate active pre-amp was the Krell KPS-25sc, at the time of the technolgy, the Krell Kps-25sc was it, looking for a componet that can run direct to amps with success over a seperate active pre-amp is like looking for a needle in a hay stack, However, It can be done, cheers gentleman.

Audiolabyrinth,
You simply have to go down the path that works best for you. I have no interest in telling others what's right for them, none.I just relate my listening experiences and the outcome observed. Premium active (tubes for me in particular) preamplifiers present more naturalness, truth and realism and I must have that vital contribution.
Charles,

Ok you Aphiles. The Star Sound Apprentice 103 stand with 1.5 inch cones is just simply delicious under the Romulus. Hard to believe a simple stand/footer could make such a sweet improvement in my music.

Less electronic or reproduced sounding music.....notes float in a space as if the speakers were not there at all. Music has a delicious richness and tone that is more intoxicating. Precise imaging with a noticeable absence of haze, smearing and noise you never thought was there.

Ya, I like the stand a lot :-)