Preamp - what's the purpose?

Intentionally dumb question...

I've heard various 5-15W tube amps in my room. EL84, 300B, etc. They all have input stages and the output stage. I send them a line-level signal from a DAC.

Sitting a few meters away from my loudspeakers, the first watt alone gives me roughly 80db of volume. I think these amps are biased to expect the line level signal directly. Why wouldn't the designer do that?

So what's the point of adding a pre-amp? Why do people do it?

thanks in advance

clustrocasual03-06-2024 8:06pm

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jomonhifi Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 140 posts 03-07-2024 at 06:37am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I removed my ARC Ref 6SE and put my DCS Rossini APEX straight into my amp…. The loss of dynamics and soundstage was dramatic. I promptly but that experiment to bed.
asvjerry Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,338 posts 03-07-2024 at 08:28am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Been without a pre for over a decade now without withdrawal symptoms, so you might say I’ve survived....sorry ’bout that...Not. g One analog 6x6 matrix, one digital 6x6 includes video & optical, 2 digital eq’s (one for the space, other for whatever)....that’s most of a pre, anyway. Was gifted with a nice older one ’while back, but looping it in ’proper’ calls for a major physical re-arrange and some more IC spaghetti.... Only been asked once "Why isn’t this up against the wall?" 😒 "C’mere...look...." "Oh...." ’Puters and amp have their own line cords. all else is low watts & amps on a 3rd line. You can guess the rest...;)
cey Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 205 posts 03-07-2024 at 10:21am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete to manage and organize sources to send source signals to a power amp by using gain, impedance matching & whatever im leaving out
dinov Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 802 posts 03-07-2024 at 12:46pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete To control multiple sources.
yesiam_a_pirate Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 156 posts 03-07-2024 at 01:34pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I have tried it both ways- in my case a PS Audio Direct Stream DAC to an Audio Research SP 15, an Audio Research Ref 6SE and direct to amp. My experience is this: If I don't mind having lower volume recordings preventing me from getting the DBs I want (I like 80-96DB) DAC to amp is just fine. Alternatively my SP 15 added a certain brightness to the mid/highs which I wasn't satisfied with. My Ref 6 SE was a big volume booster- and nearly neutral. Zero added shades. It did add discernable separation of string instruments (airness?) and the feeling I could "see" behind the cello as it played. I thought that was really cool and worth the price of admission. I no longer use phono and CD so switching between sources was not important to me. There is also the budget issue. DAC to amp saves you the costs of buying and maintaining a preamp. At least for me having great music and a small budget when I got back into the hobby made DAC to amp a great deal. I hope my "eye witness" experience helps you with your decision.