Preamp - what's the purpose?

These days you don’t really need one IMO unless you have analog sources and still like records or tapes. I run my dac directly to my amp and it sounds great. I have tried two different preamps in my system and I keep going back to running straight from the dac. It’s not that it sounds like crap with a preamp in the chain but I find I lose a little bit of that air and transparency if going through the preamp. It’s that much more electronics and cables added to the signal chain that you don’t possibly need. Paul McGowan from PS Audio was always saying “the best preamp is no preamp” and I tend to agree with him. Although he did admit that once in a while a really good preamp could improve the sound sometimes but also said if you are not going to use a real high end preamp, you are still better off going direct from dac and I agree.  Then again it all comes down to personal preference and taste. 

That’s the thing these days, most dac sources have subwoofer circuitry with high pass filters and gain control.  My Oppo 205 has all these features plus many more including surround 7.1. I run it direct to my power amp through balanced XLR connection.