I’ve never had good results running direct from CD or DAC to power amps. Others do and so obviously I haven’t made the correct equipment choices in that regard.
The only good experience I’ve had with eliminating an active preamp is with utilizing a Manley Steelhead’s variable output. I found that to be excellent. I use an expensive tube preamp and can honestly say that there’s only a marginal improvement in areas of tone and transparency when compared to the Steelhead’s vari-out. But these small improvements are worth it to me, for the time being.
I think there’s a higher cost threshold that one must pass through with an active preamp for there to be an overall improvement in system performance. Cheaper preamps (with lower quality parts) always seem to add coloration and remove transparency in my limited experience.
The only good experience I’ve had with eliminating an active preamp is with utilizing a Manley Steelhead’s variable output. I found that to be excellent. I use an expensive tube preamp and can honestly say that there’s only a marginal improvement in areas of tone and transparency when compared to the Steelhead’s vari-out. But these small improvements are worth it to me, for the time being.
I think there’s a higher cost threshold that one must pass through with an active preamp for there to be an overall improvement in system performance. Cheaper preamps (with lower quality parts) always seem to add coloration and remove transparency in my limited experience.