You absolutely want a preamp if your budget allows for at least $4.000. for the pre alone. That's what it will take to better a CD direct or with a passive volume control. Anything less and it would be better to buy a better cd player and go direct. Once you get up to the likes of Herron or Hovland or cat etc. it is no contest that the pre adds dynamics and life to the music that no passive setup can match. Don't listen to the idea that less is better because the digital volumes are crap. and the analog volumes are still a filter in the signal path with a input and output impedance that affects the end result just as much as an entire active preamp!
