Are Pre-Amps necessary?

@vanson1
It’s been already answered on an earlier thread which has substantial content:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/how-important-is-the-pre-amp

Check out the PS Audio link where owner Paul was a staunchly in the camp of “no” until it was proven to him to a “yes”

You have to take what’s said with a grain of salt anyone that has $$$ to be made out of something. (and no I don’t own Lightspeed Attenuator anymore) and when I did I still always said going direct was better still.

It’s said Paul backed MQA to use it, and then pulled the pin just as quickly when it lost cred.

Cheers George

I can only share my experience from what my ears have told me after experimenting on this matter. I've tried my Lumin T2 with Leedh volum control into my JC1+, I've then tried a JC2 as a pre with same source but with disabled Leedh before I went with ARC LS28 witch is where I'm at now. I can assure you that even my grandmother could tell there is a difference. I will not go into discussions if sq is coloured or not with pre but I know that I will prefer a pre any day, any week.... 

chorus670 posts10-14-2021 11:41pmNever heard a pre that "Improved" the SQ compared to "No Pre".

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WEll true and not so true.
My Jadis DPL , 20+ yrs old, bought last year , now have Mundorf EVO caps and Takman Rey resistors + running Tele in the AX and AU, Tele in the cd buffer out, 
I'd say when I put in a Tele I note a   nice  nuance vs a  RCA, Bugle Boy AU  and AX in the slot.
So there must be something said for a  nuance of the pre's imput. 
But if the Shanling, Cayin or Jadis DAC, any of the 3 hada   vol pot,, I'd dump the DPL linestage.
Its really not needed and adds too much gain in the circuit for my 95db sens + 91db sens dual WBers.
Bottom line. 
Linestage/pre are not a  must have, neither a  should have.
If you find a  tube DAC /Tube player with a  vol pot, go for it and sell your linestage. 

Just looked overa  few DAC's, that I like, None have vol pot.
I have to cancel my above opinion,. Linestage are necessary as now you get more opportunities to pick which CD player/DAC you want.
So yes linestage are valid and necessary.