Preamps waste of money?

It`s rare when a resistor based VC is found to be less colored than LDR or transformer VC.Usually it`s the other way around.Resistors are said to have more of a signature according to many who`ve compared different types.There`ll always be exceptions to any generalization and each system is unique in terms of outcome.
Regards,

If the stars lined up for you in this instance then congratulations are in order. I, like many of the respondents on this thread have never heard a good quality active linestage outperformed by a passive or direct source-amp connection configuration.
This set up worked out so I`m happy for you.

Dracule1,
I agree with you, thin and lean is`nt neutral, just another aberration. Real insruments and voices are full bodied and complete, not washed out and dry.For example a live tenor saxaphone sounds big and is full of tone and color.Some preamps seem to strip away the fullness and sound perhaps only 70-80% complete with less weight and presence.This is`nt a natural sound IMO.The really good tube preamps just seem to get it closer to the truth.
Regards,

It did`nt seem(to me) as though Grannyring was defensive.Just pointing out this topic has many previous threads with the same results. There`ll always be two camps and I don`t believe that will ever change.As he says what ever works out best case by case.
Regards,

The thinness of some SS preamps is what it sounds like,thin.Good tube preamps come much closer to what I consistently hear live without question(there is color ,tone and developed fullness that`s unmistakable). But I certainly accept people will always hear differently and have other opinions,SS pre/amplifier for you,tubes for me.

No live instrument or voice I`ve ever heard sounds thin ,lean,dry and sterile(incomplete signal reproduction? who knows).If the fuller tonality and realistic body is a tube coloration I `ll take it as it`s more authentic natural and more convincing.Thin and sterile is`nt(sounds hifi and canned to me).That`s why there`re ample choices available to please very different ears.When someone hears a live instrument that sounds "thin" let me know.
Regards,

Last lemming,
I share the same philosophy and mind set for simplicity. But only to the point where this route does`nt begin to compromise or subtract from the music.

Not every active preamp is good and some of the better passives I`d prefer.However once you find a'very good' active preamp it delivers more of the complete music signal(dynamics,weight,nuance,scale etc.)The overall effect is more emotion, soul and involvement(visceral) just my own experience.

It`d be good if you could compare these different appraoches and hear for youself(I know, easier said than done).For me music is about connecting emotionally rather the than cool detachment and observation aspect.I enjoy my current system`s music reproduction so much that I seldom watch the TV any more.I just love the beauty of music.
Regards,

The lack of odd order distortion is probably why many listeners find tube preamps more natural and realistic without likely knowing exactly why.Even order harmonics are consonant with music(overtones and funtamental) and nature.The thin and dry sound of 'some' SS components could just be the product of odd order disortion(no matter how small its presence?).

Kijanki,
Agree, I don`t want an amp to add anything.I just want it to sound natural and realistic as possible.
Regards,