Tube amp with volume control vs. with a proper pre


There are tube amps (such as the art audio) with a volume control that can be used without a pre-amp. What is the benefit of this? Is it more direct? Is a pre unnessessary?
chashmal
My Raysonic 168 ($2500) has an awesome tube output with remote volume control. Good enough to retire my PS Audio GCP 200/GCPS ($3K!)
You've got a great summmary of the issue already posted. Passive vs active is an issue, the occasional tube amp will have an input selector with room for 2 or 3 sources. Some disc players have a higher output to start than others. I've got a modified player on which the mod knocked the output down quite a bit which wouldn't work well at all with a passive pre. This would be a time when I might look a little harder at reviews than I would otherwise. And if you see a "but it really opened up when in put my active brand X preamp in front of the amp" you'll know to move on.
Regards,
Larry R
Seattle
Personally I wouldn't be without an active pre-amp and I certainly would not want a 2d VC in the chain. Boils down the the active v passive issues discussed here so often.
I'm generally of this mindset too, but since I purchased my TAD 60 I've softened my position some. The TAD is much more sensitive than any other amp I've used, and with a single CD input I'm not at all missing an active preamp. I was actually surprised when I first hooked it up this way . . . it was the first time I've been satisfied with a passive preamp.
I was thinking of going this way, for reasons of affordability and what I imagine might be a direct high resolution signal. I was thinking of the Art Audio Carissa with volume control. I am not a technical guy, so the complication factor makes me want to rely on a good pre, thus I am curious what the opinions are on this.
Basically the VC on an amp is nothing more or less than a 'passive line stage' without more inputs/outputs and one less set of IC's. If you have one with a high quality VC and only one source you MAY like it better than using a pre-amp. Personally I wouldn't be without an active pre-amp and I certainly would not want a 2d VC in the chain. Boils down the the active v passive issues discussed here so often.