Best Preamp = No Preamp?

DACs you mentioned, I think you're better off getting a tube preamp. If you want to go without preamp, consider Mark Levinson or Wadia cd players. Otherwise, with Bel Canto and Benchmark I think you will benefit from a preamp, especially a tubed one. You will get better soundstage and overall timbre of instruments.
Also, FWIW, I would take Bel Canto over Benchmark. Keep in mind that Benchmark is a recording studio tool.
It will be very detailed and may make some CDs unlistenable, depending on the rest of your system. If the system is revealing now, I'd go for Bel Canto.

Dude,

you can run volume control all you want. it is GOOD. VERY GOOD on the Squeezebox 3, but man, it really opens up nicely with a nice tube preamp.

you dont need to spend a ton on a preamp. Get something infinitely resellable, desireable, and affordable like a Melos SHA-1.

You wont regret trying it. MAKE SURE YOU GET DECENT INTERCONNECTS, otherwise you are taking yourself out of the game before you start.

Not really. Either the dac or an integrated amplifier incorporates the preamp gainstage. So one isn't actually ridding a stage but placing it in another location.

However, lack of physical space will limit the quality, especially a tube analog gainstage.

Steve

Perhaps those who think no pre-amp is the best preamp should consider attaching their DAC output directly to their speakers. Then they could avoid having that nasty power amp in the signal chain with the changes it makes to their signal. This would be the logical extension of such thinking.

As for me, I use a very nice preamp, with outboard power supply. I like how it preserves the dynamics of the recording. If one has limited shelf space, there are now many fine choices in integrated amplifiers - perhaps this would be a good way to avoid using a preamp. Or maybe many would be happy to use nice headphones with the Benchmark DAC-1.

Cheers,

Charlie

An old thread, but I wanted to "testify" as I have recently been enjoying my old Monarchy 18B DAC direct to a PSE Studio IV amp with wonderful results. Coming off of "old iron" tube integrated too, which surprised me- huge soundstage, great height/width and air- I didn't think I could live without tubes, let alone without a preamp too, crazy. The tipping point was replacing the cheap volume knob with a ladder stepped attenuator (inexpensive one)- this created a significant SQ improvement- true, there really is no "slam", I can't crank it and rattle the windows (I don't do that much any more) - I couldn't do that with my30 watt tube piece either, so I guess I'm used to that- but I'm pushing Vandy 2CE's this way, so I am doubly surprised- just a wonderful, clear, crystalline presentation-

I will likely grab a preamp at some point both because I'm an itchy audio guy who is always changing things, and because I feel a little "inadequate" without the pre- Ha! But I recommend those with the right set-up give it a try- a quality attenuator is a key factor too, keep an eye on that.