Why do preamps improve sound of CDP?


I have tried listening to my CDP through my preamp and bypassing my preamp going from CDP directly to headphone amp. If I go through the tape out of my preamp the sound is even nicer than direct from CDP to headphone amp. Why is this?
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Showing 1 response by shadorne

CDP probably has a poor quality preamp or your headphone amp has a low impedance input (poor quality headphone amp) or you are passively attenuating the signal.

A well designed preamp (high input inmepdance and low output impedance with good output capability) allows you to couple equipment together with no loss of signal quality - this is a well known fact.

Of course some people just insist that passive attenuators or no pre-amps in the path are better becuase of "purity" or "less-is-more" principle and nothing I or anyone can say will persuade them differently.