For a couple of years, I was feeding my PS Audio M700 amps directly from my PS Audio Directstream DAC, and I thought that the sound was great. I began to wonder if and how a good preamp would improve the overall sq of my system. This was after reading Paul McGowan change of opinion regarding using a good preamp rather than just the dac. So when PS Audio came out with the Stellar Gold Preamp ( in beta testing) I decided to give it a try. The improvement was very significant!! Soundstage is deeper, instruments have better air, and vocals are much more realistic and natural. Overall, the entire sound is more musical and natural. Much closer to a live performance. And I found that the improvement applies across all musical genres, classical, opera, jazz, and rock. BTW, my speakers are a pair of Legacy Audio Signature SE.
DAC as pre amp
This post is just a brief for posterity sake in regards to the the significance of a good pre. As I have stated in other threads over the last few years , when the subject arise, I occasionally remove my pre from the chain and run my Wadia 321 as the pre. I always find my way back to my dedicated pre. I got some Quad Z-4s awhile back and after a recent post regarding the DAC direct question I decided to try again. This round the improvement was even more dramatic with the dedicated pre and the Quads. My modest system is good enough for my level of listening sophistication. but If I ever decided to upgrade a component in the future , the pre would be the unit I would explore. Another member stated that a good pre will ad a "richness" to the sound. I think that is exactly what I hear.