kellen OP
Save your money on any preamp, put it toward upgrading something else. The Benchmark Dac3 has a very good volume control, and it's output stage would put many preamps to shame..
Benchmark Dac3 volume control60ohms output impedance, with up to 18v output available, this is more that enough for any amp ever, would even drive a First Watt F? Nelson Pass amp that has virtually no gain
HGC™ Hybrid Gain Control HGC™ is Benchmark’s unique hybrid gain control that combines analog and digital gain control into a single volume control knob. The HGC™ system uses an active analog gain control for analog inputs and a 32-bit dithered volume control for digital inputs. Both types of inputs leverage the low-impedance passive Manual for DAC3 HGC and DAC3 L with 2.X Firmware - Rev. D Page 7 analog attenuation system at the XLR outputs. The dual-domain HGC™ system combines the high dynamic range of Benchmark’s HDR™ analog control (used in the DAC1 HDR) with the low distortion and accuracy of a digital control. HGC™ outperforms traditional analog or digital volume controls, including the twostage DAC1 HDR™ system. Musical details are preserved over a very wide range of output levels. Analog inputs are controlled in the analog domain. Digital inputs are controlled in both domains. The volume control is a servo-driven analog potentiometer. This control rotates in response to commands from the remote control while providing the convenience of manual adjustments with a physical knob.
Cheers George