How important is the pre-amp?

From integral to superfluous to hindrance. It’s system dependent.

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Had a  Chinese clone of a  jadis circuit, obviously far away froma  actual Jadis,a s 1 tech geek who mods these linestage told me,,,but anyway,, had 6 12AT7's, love all those tubes,,,installed Mundorf caps, ,,,6 months later added a Jadis DPL from 2000 era, installed M caps, Takman resistors,, honestly,, the DPL was a  nuance superior, not bu much.
So yes, a  linestage has slight, minisclue gains in sonic.s

My mantra here on audiogon is
~~Speakers are everything ina  system~~
At least 90% of the soundstage.
= preamps/amps/source, all divide the 15%
5%/5%/5%
Speakers 85%
So do the math. 

I firmly believe that for 99% of applications, a true, discrete, stepped attenuator using a minimal number of resistors, great contacts, and good (not awesome) resistors is pretty darn transparent.


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I might have to agree. My tech geek swaers by a good Acoustics (made in Italy) 44 step ateenuator,,but sadly my Jadis DPL has no room for the vol pot..
I’d bet your DIY attenuator + resistors sounds as good/better
as my Jadis DPL with
Mundorf + Philips caps, Takman Rey Metal resistors.
Shorter path = cleaner path...
  Am I following you right.
For just 1 added component, saya  CD player, we only need 1 out
So you are saying a simple DIY 44 step attenuator + some resistiors, = beats high priced pres?
Yes??

The point of this thread is ... no you don;t. But is it beneficial? You can use a DAC with volume control straight into your amp. Or a regular DAC with Roon and DSP based volume control. or ..... But as has been discussed extensively (read for the details that need not be lowed yet again) there are issues.

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Agree DAC with vol controls, is not going to deliversame detailed sonics as a  tube linestage.
Just not...so we all agree here
a  linestage has significant impact on ultimate soundstage/presence, details.
Some a  nuance better than others.

back to my formula.
Amp /5%
Linestage 5%
Source 5%..
Tell ya what, I;'ll give the 3, 10% each, hows that, Im fair, and generous.
That leaves the speaker brand a  wopping 70% of the equation.
Take the finest ever made amp, and linestage

say Usegi's very best linestage and very best tube amp...
The Usegi is still going to adopt the character of the speaker.
The speaker voice is the wopping 70%.
It would be a  waste to run a  Usegi's  electronics through most of the speakers on this list.
Just like i would not pair my amp with  any speaker on this list.
Just wouldn't.
I did not work on my system past 3 yrs, to have it brought down to a  speakers lousey voicing.

Perhaps you might see your speaker on this list. 
If horns are there and WBers are there,,,my apologies.
I've not looked through the entire list.
Linestage are extremely important, but not when we havea  speaker that is  hadicaped and is adding unwanted things to  the ultimate expression.


https://mynewmicrophone.com/full-list-loudspeaker-studio-monitor-brands-manufacturers/