I agree with Clueless about there being many variables that will determine compatibility and sound quality. My personal opinion is that all source components benefit more sonically from what an active preamplifier offers than they benefit from what a passive or built in preamplifier offers. In other words, I am willing to accept a loss of detail in order to gain a gain better dynamics. I never had a good experience with a passive line stage. The last one that I owned was a Mod Squad Deluxe Line Drive. It was years ago and at that time was considered to be one of the better passive line stages available. Other reasonable music lovers and audiophiles may disagree.
I ran a Wadia 830 directly into a Bryston 4BST and into a Bryston BP20 Preamplifier. To me it was clear that the system sounded better when the Wadia was run through the preamplifier. This system was very nice, but I am sure that the differences would have been even more dramatic if I had better equipment at that time.
I ran a Wadia 830 directly into a Bryston 4BST and into a Bryston BP20 Preamplifier. To me it was clear that the system sounded better when the Wadia was run through the preamplifier. This system was very nice, but I am sure that the differences would have been even more dramatic if I had better equipment at that time.