When you say buffer pre, you are talking about an active preamp, the buffer being an active component. Do you mean a unity gain (no gain) buffer preamp vs. one with gain? Or, are you confusing active vs. passive (no amplification stage or buffer stage, just switching and attenuation).
Most source components, other than phono gear, have enough gain so that only attenuation to control volume is really needed. The buffer takes away some of the concerns over proper impedance matching of source components and compatibility with the downstream amplifier. If you don't really need more gain, a buffer stage is simpler, cheaper and should provide the flexibility/component compatibility that you need. Either active buffer or a preamp with gain will be less prone to suffer from compatibility issues or from a loss of "life" (dynamics) than passives.
My only unity gain linestage was the Placette active that I owned. One certainly cannot say that it suffered from any loss of dynamics. My current linestage is a tube linestage with 13 db of gain. I actually need the gain with my current phono setup.
Most source components, other than phono gear, have enough gain so that only attenuation to control volume is really needed. The buffer takes away some of the concerns over proper impedance matching of source components and compatibility with the downstream amplifier. If you don't really need more gain, a buffer stage is simpler, cheaper and should provide the flexibility/component compatibility that you need. Either active buffer or a preamp with gain will be less prone to suffer from compatibility issues or from a loss of "life" (dynamics) than passives.
My only unity gain linestage was the Placette active that I owned. One certainly cannot say that it suffered from any loss of dynamics. My current linestage is a tube linestage with 13 db of gain. I actually need the gain with my current phono setup.
