I'd like to prepsent a few facts which may help you to understand this complex issue. Because the answer is "it depends".
1st, if we look back 40 yesrs ago, we did not have high output sources. So it was a must to have preamp not only to switch sources but to amplify the signal for the amps. So, the amps were not buit as sesitive as todays amps. Not only that most speakers were very efficient. When CDP first came out they also had much lower output(less than 1v) than todays CDP(2v).
2nd, the only things in audio chaine which does not amplify the signal is the phono pickup and DAC chip. As soon as the signal leaves the TRUE source each component amplifies the signal including the source equipment.
3rd, amplification process doesn't make the input signal bigger. It make a bigger COPY of the input and discard the original. So, as soon as the original leaves the TRUE source, its forever gone and only the COPY handed down.
4th, all amplification process react to the demand from Down Stream and pass that to the Up Stream. Which means, speaker demand reachs all the way up to the very first amplification. Which also means, if the Mid Stream amplification can meet the demand of DS less demand goes to US.
5th, eash pomponent has multiple amp/gain stages. Two to as many as five. Less can be better but demands much better performance from US.
6th, many of todays speakers are very inefficient. Impedence drops too low which put much high demand up the chain.
I'm a purist and I don't use pre nither active nor passive. I'm using Meridian digital pre infront of the DAC. My DAC is Denon DVD5000 which I had disable the entire DVD section route all poower to DAC section and re bias its output to class A resulting 4v of output from the 2v. And all my amps are very sensitive which requires only .5 to 1v of input. I'm a SET guy and most of them are naturally sesitive.
More often than not it will be your speakers calling the shot.
Best regards...
