Is no preamp the best preamp of all?

There are very few great DACs and CDPs with truly exceptional volume controls and even fewer with analog volume controls. My experience in this regards is with the following digital devices, testing them direct to amps and also via preamps: Levinson 390S CDP, DCS stack, EMM Labs, Resolution Audio Opus 21 w/ GNSC mods, Audio Aero Capitol, Esoteric SA-50.

Trebejo s right, they all perform better direct than through a bad preamp. Though, with a good preamp in the system, for the most part they all performed better than direct. But a good preamp is not so easy to come by! Here are a couple of preamps that did not result in "better" performance for ALL of the players: Gamut 3Di, ARC LS16MK2, BAT 5 series (don't remember exact model), Cary SLP Series (don't remember exact model number).

I feel that with the Aesthetix Calypso (w/ upgraded tubes) and also a SF line 3, they all performed better with the preamp.

Based on your (OP) comments, it sounds like you are running through a Pre/Pro or HT Receiver, if that is the case, then I would suspect most any decent (not even great) product is going to sound better direct than going through the processor (even in direct mode).

If you like that experiment with yor Oppo BDP-95 here an even better one. Download a 192kHz 24 bit FLAC FILE ( I have done this with( Carly Simon No Secrets and others)from HD Tracks onto your computer, insert a keychain USB
(at least 4 gig) and plug it into the USB input in the back of the Oppo BDP-95, And listen to an uncompressed,
solid state(no moving parts)memory, 24 bit/192kHz playback
micro music-server.Some of thier files are only in 96kHz,
go for any music you know well in 192kHz the difference is huge. A taste of a High-Rez music server for low $.
The Flac files won't play on itunes, Windows ect. it will on the Oppo 95. Like all audio devices the USB needs break-in and may take a week on re-play to sound it's best.

Digital volume controls are the algorithmic cousins of mp3s.

In such an instance, the preamp has to be pretty contemptible if it cannot beat the digital volume control.

Don't fall for it, if a manufacturer will not name the specific algorithm used for digital volume attenuation, then you are most probably getting significant digital distortion. Don't be fooled by price, either, you can spend well over $1k and still get this sneaky problem.

I don't know what the monetary lower bound is for good preamps, but for starters, for $500 you can get a used TVC. Used Van Alstine is under $1k. A used AES is under $1k. New or used Mapletree, under $1k. Any of these should be a sonically good foundation for the rest of your future system.

I am currently running an Anthem AVM 30 to an Anthem Statement P5 to Eidolon Visions. I was going to try some Harrison Labs Attenuators (so I wouldn't destroy my speakers if I messed up) to see if they negatively affected the sound. I am running a 5.1 (with a Paradigm Sub 1) system, but I primarily use it for 2 channel listening. Would I be better off with a 2 channel analog preamp and a digital processor, a 5 channel analog preamp, going direct to the power amp with passive attenuators and crossovers, or a high end processor? Based on your recommendation, what specific brands/models would you recommend?

@Trebejo

I just don't hear it. I've done a lot of listening at various levels of digital attenuation with a wide variety of lossless files, and I don't hear any ill effects. Can you be specific about what I should listen for or give some technical details?