The TAS reviewer probably did not mention that what he was attempting to do was imitate a Passive Attenuator setup in the system. You can go direct from any component with a voltage output to your amps through passive attentuators. Check the EVS website. $225 a pair. The component does not require a volume control, ie DAC's. (The PA's are the volume control). The purest signal, the best sound you will achieve is by eliminating as many stages, switches, and wires, between the source and the amps as possible.
CD direct to Amp/Current TAS issue ?
In the current issue of the Absolute Sound, the reviewers are asked to put together reccomended systems within certain price ranges (this is a great issue, BTW). One of the reccomended systems has an amp and CD player, but no preamp. The reviewer says something to the effect of "Because the CD player has an analog output level control, a preamp is not required and that money can be put into other areas of the system." Does this work with any CD player/Amp combination as long as the CD has an output level control? Is there any risk of damaging the amp or speakers by using this "no preamp" configuration? Other than being limited to only one input source, are there any drawbacks to going direct to amp? I appreciate any light you can shed on this subject, especially if any of you are actually running your systems in this configuration.