With Wadia, pre-amp or no pre-amp

I used to have a 850. Used it direct to a BAT VK200 and then to a BAT vk60. Later on, I added a BAT vk50se. Here is my experience, on a dollar basis, the Wadia is very very good. Especially at higher volume levels. You do loose resolution when the volume control is 75 or lower, you really start to notice it below 50. However, without a top notch preamp to directly compare it to...you won't miss much.

Also, I thought the preamp helps in dynamics and soundstage. That's my 2 cents...

I guess I'd like to add one more comment to my above post, I think direct at higher volume levels the Wadia direct add a decree of imtimacy that the preamp just won't give you. However, the preamp does help in dynamics and soundstage like I said above. Depends on what's more important to you and what you want to spend.