Preamp or Not to Preamp?

I have never found an active preamp to sounded better in context of my system. My theta gen. va has alway sounded best with a passive unit to the cary 805c. Details I was accustomed to were missing with active preamps. The two dogs on Roger Waters, Amused to death, would turn to one dog. If I Knew dogs, I could tell which breeds with the passive unit. This was not true with the active preamps I have tried. I will not name them because I have heard them sound great in the context of friends systems. You must try them yourself and discover your cup of tea. maybe the gen Va with 3.5 volts of output is all the 805c need being they only need 1 volt for full output. It could also be I am ignorant of other qualities I am missing. Please Keep me ignorant because my system sound great.

I've used both. Some DACs and CD players with volume work better than others. Bidats and Accuphase work well straight in, from my experience. My Wadia did not...too forward and digital sounding. Very transparent pre-amps have their advantages. There are trade offs either way. A good explanantion is offered by Guy Hammel on his web-site, www.placetteaudio.com.

I've tried the "No Preamp" approach...the music always sounded harder and less musical...passive preamps suck most of the "drive" from the music...a good active preamp is essential~