Dumb question......why do you need a preamp?

This question isn’t’ dumb at all. Digital components have a high output analogue section that -very rare extreme impedance mismatches excluded- only need an attenuator to drive the power amp. Preamps were designed for the opposite purpose: bringing up low or very low output from phonostages to where an attenuator could even be used. In other words: they are a bit of an anachronism.

@skinzy

Any dac needs to emit its analogue signalat preamp output levels. Your experience matches my own. Obviously if you use a digital attenuator at minimum output levels you are throwing too many bits away. Using a high quality analogue attenuator built into a high quality dac‘s analogue stage -excluding very rare instances of major impedance mismatches- IS EQUIVALENT TO USING A PRE! while saving a set of cable transmissions with their associated losses and distortions, i.e. superior