Best preamp is no preamp: always true?

I can only tell you what my ears told me. At the present time I am running a modest system with early Maggie I series, Threshold S/150, Sony Dvp 7000 with mods on all the above. My preamp consisted of an entry level Audio Note M Zero, although a budget preamp I found it to have very pleaseing sonics. But you know I wanted more and being that the Sony DVP 7000 was know as a better transport than player I thought I should try an outboard Dac. Enter the Benchmark Dac which I played for 3 weekend days ( lots of hours )and I ran it through my preamp then as the manual says I thought I would try it without the preamp. WOW !! the difference was stunning, much better sound stage, more dynamic, much more bloom in the instrument. Why would I run it through my preamp after this. I sold the Audio Note and go from my CDP-Dac-Amp, the benchmark Dac I believe does have an active gain stage for volume. Had I had a better preamp I might not have noticed the big difference. But I really like what I hear now. I'm on a budget but I will say I live in Vancouver and have been thinking about trying a preamp from a local builder known as Space Tech. Labs which has had some good reviews.

Unsound

Thought I better stir pot.

Dave

Dave, that's what I thought. As usuall it carried a good thought as well.

Add to the list of integrated amps with a passive input the Ayre AX-7e.

I have not heard any of these (passive input) integrateds. I would like to, though. Their power amp sections were designed specifically to be run with a passive pre' section (I presume) and so would most likely do just fine---more than fine---in this configuration, especially with a high output, low impedance CDP or DAC.

Could these integrateds be tested with and w/o an active pre-amp by turning the volume all the way up on the Int amp and use it with an active pre'? And then take the pre' out and use the volume control on the int amp as usual? Has anybody tried this with such an integrated amp?

Does the Berning 270 amp have a passive input section?

Yes I have. I've tried this with my passive integrated. It sounds much better when you have the active gain stage involved.Without it the sound is clear and precise but a tad thin without the help from a tube linestage. After trying it both ways I couldn't see going without the active linestage/ gain-stage in the loop. I liked the sound so much I'm getting a unit built without the volume control that is nothing more than a low gain active stage to go between my DAC and Integrated.