I too have a Puccini and U clock (Jfrech's old one actually)and agree that while one aspect of the sound is improved, a preamp gives a greater sense of coherency, smoothness and depth, but it has to be a good one. In my case a Nagra PL-L.
dCS Puccini built-in preamplifier
I am interested in any opinion about dCS Puccini built-in preamplifier. From my experiences connecting directly Puccini to Jadis JA 80, Ayon Vulcan, Cary CAD805 (once) and Art Audio Silver Harmony (now)is that the sound quality of built-in preamp is very good. Leading role plays interconect cable between dCS and external preamplifier. The high quality cable (as Siltech from Royal series) beats every external preamplifier that I have heard in my system (I vad Jadis JP80, Art Audio Conductor, Octave HP700). But It may be misleading when comparing to top pramplifier with top interconect. That is why I am asking Conmmunity.