no, it wouldn't be fair to call it that. there are reasons for skipping a pre, for certain. and a pre *can* indeed add coloration or be used to tune a system. the problem with that, however, is that adding anything to "tune" is to distort the music to your own tastes.
if you get a really good pre, it can become sonically transparent, which is what people are hoping for when going straight to amp from cd.
as for your initial question, however, in a purely digital system, having no pre makes sense. unless you're running a tv through it as well, or if you have a turntable.
the problem is the limiting factor. in order to run it without a pre, the cd player must have a volume control. there are fine cd player ou there with volume controls, but there;s only one cd player out there to make me replace my jupiter. and, sadly, the linn cd12 has no volume control. nor does my lp12, so it'll always be a pre for me.
if you like a cd player with a vc, though, it's a good idea.
if you get a really good pre, it can become sonically transparent, which is what people are hoping for when going straight to amp from cd.
as for your initial question, however, in a purely digital system, having no pre makes sense. unless you're running a tv through it as well, or if you have a turntable.
the problem is the limiting factor. in order to run it without a pre, the cd player must have a volume control. there are fine cd player ou there with volume controls, but there;s only one cd player out there to make me replace my jupiter. and, sadly, the linn cd12 has no volume control. nor does my lp12, so it'll always be a pre for me.
if you like a cd player with a vc, though, it's a good idea.