Control volume with DAC or Preamp?

@georgehifi I respect your perspective, but you can't tell people their ears are wrong when they find that an active preamp improves system performance. 

The nice thing about having volume control in both pre and dac is that it allows you to find out for yourself. When I did that I found that the pre-amp improved system performance in every way. Bascom King and many others have found the same. Some others like you have not. As always, you have to try it in your system to know which will hold for you.

Just for accuracy... The DS Dac is transformer coupled. You can see it here:

https://images.app.goo.gl/oDW85e3k2MKCXJP98

Indeed, you, like me and many others, have found that quality preamps do indeed serve their designed purpose.

Of course George will tell you that your ears (or components) are wrong.

What's important is that future readers understand his bias, and that the only way to know for themselves is to try the alternative approaches in their system.

Clearly results differ in different systems and for different ears. 

That audionet gear looks great. I was reading about the amps and may try replicating the independent power supply transformers for each rail in my amps too. I've already got an extra one just sitting unconnected in the power supply as is so it'll just be a little 10 minute mod. Thanks for the information!