My two cents worth.. I agree with many but not all of the above points. One key point is that a preamp is usually easier to drive than a power amp - particularly some low input impedence solid state power amps. So in the design of a DAC's output stage, the easy task of driving a preamp will usually be in mind - but not so with players like Wadia, Resolution etc that are specifically designed to drive power amps. Whereas in designing a preamp the more difficult task of driving a power amp will be in mind. So you need to try it out and check you do not encounter typical drive problems such as tonal thinning, or loss of dynamics. Second point is just in response to CDguru's point - I am sure some people do think buying a tube preamp is beneficial because of its effect on tone (even though they are misguided), but it is not accurate to suggest that this is the only reason. The other reason is that people prefer tube preamps in order to eliminate the unnatural and unmusical characteristics of many solid state preamps. Both solid state and tubed preamps are flawed, but in different ways. And before anyone accuses me of preferring the colouration of tubes - I currently use a solid state preamp.
CD direct to Amp/Current TAS issue ?
In the current issue of the Absolute Sound, the reviewers are asked to put together reccomended systems within certain price ranges (this is a great issue, BTW). One of the reccomended systems has an amp and CD player, but no preamp. The reviewer says something to the effect of "Because the CD player has an analog output level control, a preamp is not required and that money can be put into other areas of the system." Does this work with any CD player/Amp combination as long as the CD has an output level control? Is there any risk of damaging the amp or speakers by using this "no preamp" configuration? Other than being limited to only one input source, are there any drawbacks to going direct to amp? I appreciate any light you can shed on this subject, especially if any of you are actually running your systems in this configuration.