DAC to Amps bypassing preamp: Opinions please

Smeyers, I agree with you in theroy but the reality is that a pre-amp creates dynamics. It has a sonic signiture (usually) of it's own that adds to the overall system sound. I don't know why more manufacturers don't add better sound to their digital equipment but it seems this market is more concerned with a single piece doing a single job. We seem to be driven to the fact that one piece can't do it all, it is what the market dictates. I feel there are great intergrated amps out there but people want a seperate sexy chassis per item it seems. I am no different, I don't have an intergrated, I run mono's, a pre-amp & a DAC, I also have only two digital sources. In my system for me it just sounds better.

I used my Dac Bolen Modified EAD DSP-9000 Pro with and without a preamp in the chain. Preamps used First Sound,
Canary, Pass and just recently listed Superphon and in all the best sound has been Dac direct into amps. As others have suggested it is up to your ears to decide.

I think that mcintosh's best dac does this (provide just a bit higher level of amplification with a volume control that is meant to drive amps directly)and I think there new single disc cd player does this also.