I recently used a fairly high end CD player directly into a good amp for about a year or so. The cd player has a high quality, analogue domain volume control built in. The sound was concise and clear. I recently purchased a pre-amp to match my power amp. The sound retained its clarity, but now there was much more body and heft to the sound. The soundstage also got wider and deeper, due, I would guess, to the increased body of the sound including a richer lower end.
I suspect that just as with a power amp, there is no substitute for power, and the "preamp" of using a cd player's variable output just can't match a good preamp of similar quality. In other words, a good cd direct into an good amp is fine, but a good cd into a good preamp into a good amp might be as a rule better. That has been my experience recently, in any event.
pcanis
I suspect that just as with a power amp, there is no substitute for power, and the "preamp" of using a cd player's variable output just can't match a good preamp of similar quality. In other words, a good cd direct into an good amp is fine, but a good cd into a good preamp into a good amp might be as a rule better. That has been my experience recently, in any event.
pcanis