marakanetz: while it may not be true with your transport/dac combo, some high-quality dcp's offer digital volume controls that may substitute for pots in analogue pre's. i'm personally acquainted with most of the accuphase line, having owned several of their components and listening at great length to most others. in my experience, the single-box acuphase dp-75v and the dp100/dc101 sacd/cd combo both sound significantly better when run directly to an amp of equal quality to the digital units than run through a pre, even one built by accuphase. soundstage widens and deepens and the sense of PRaT is quicker and more life-like. more importantly, the sound is cleaner, as though a veil were removed from the speakers.
i do agree with albert porter that you will not likely prefer a digital source run directly to an amp (tube or ss) if you are a diehard valve fan. a great tubed pre, like the aesthetix callisto or its sister phono stage, the io, will sooth the soul of many who'd rather be playing vinyl records than listening to a laser detect the binary reflections off a piece of metal-coated plastic. i additionally confess that i've not heard ANY source, no matter how cheap or dear, that didn't sound better played through a boulder 2010 preamp. 'course one might expect such after plunkin' down $36k. -kelly
i do agree with albert porter that you will not likely prefer a digital source run directly to an amp (tube or ss) if you are a diehard valve fan. a great tubed pre, like the aesthetix callisto or its sister phono stage, the io, will sooth the soul of many who'd rather be playing vinyl records than listening to a laser detect the binary reflections off a piece of metal-coated plastic. i additionally confess that i've not heard ANY source, no matter how cheap or dear, that didn't sound better played through a boulder 2010 preamp. 'course one might expect such after plunkin' down $36k. -kelly