Preamps waste of money?

Dracule1,
I agree with you, thin and lean is`nt neutral, just another aberration. Real insruments and voices are full bodied and complete, not washed out and dry.For example a live tenor saxaphone sounds big and is full of tone and color.Some preamps seem to strip away the fullness and sound perhaps only 70-80% complete with less weight and presence.This is`nt a natural sound IMO.The really good tube preamps just seem to get it closer to the truth.
Regards,

Precisely charlsdad. I used to own a modded Threshold SA-30 class A amp. It did not have the thinness (still miss it), but it didnt have the harmonic richness of a good tube amp. I always feel I'm missing something with SS. Of course tube amplification has its problems too, but I rarely feel like I'm missing out on musical aspects that are important to me.

Not really a preamp is much better a very good tube unit.

going back to the original question.....you have to buy very good preamplifier (usually for $$$) to not to waste the money on it.....means really good preamplifiers are expensive but true....

I have an active system and the other day I removed preamp out from the system. Pass Labs XVR1 electronic crossover has volume controls which are not really passive as they are buffered but newer the less the sound significantly improved. It is always good idea to check the sound of the system without preamp, never know.

Regards