As noted above, some DAC’s volume control cut the bits at lower volumes. If your DAC does this, you definitely NEED a pre-amp. If your DAC has a ’high quality’ analog based volume control, it might sound great going direct to your power amplifier, OR maybe not.
There are no absolutes and that means you have to schedule a test using your equipment, and YOUR EARS, to decide if a pre-amp is, or is not needed. Based on my experience (my ears), I decided to use a pre-amp for the best sound quality.
Some DAC’s have excellent high quality analog based volume controls and others do not. As was also stated above, the only way you are going to know is to test the configuration by going direct from your DAC to a power amplifier and then the DAC direct to a per-amp. In other words, you have to hear how it sounds and then decide what sounds best to you. Unfortunately, it seems, there are many different opinions on this topic (some yes and some no).
There are no absolutes and that means you have to schedule a test using your equipment, and YOUR EARS, to decide if a pre-amp is, or is not needed. Based on my experience (my ears), I decided to use a pre-amp for the best sound quality.
Some DAC’s have excellent high quality analog based volume controls and others do not. As was also stated above, the only way you are going to know is to test the configuration by going direct from your DAC to a power amplifier and then the DAC direct to a per-amp. In other words, you have to hear how it sounds and then decide what sounds best to you. Unfortunately, it seems, there are many different opinions on this topic (some yes and some no).