After all these years doing AV, as a hobbiest and professional, believe me. If I could forgo as many of the pieces of the elctronics chain for purity sake, I would! I would go straight from my blu ray player directly to the amps, and be done with it! - all for the sake of sonic excellence. However, it just doesn't work as well. First, my experience on the analog side alone suggests that a preamp in the loop provides better gain and therefore dynamics to the sound - it's otherwise usually flatter sounding. As for processing and such in an AV pre/pro situation, I also find it's much more robust going digital to an AV pre/receiver -processing outboard - then on down the chain for much better dynamics, dimmensionality, and an overall stronger pressentation to the sound this way.
I've tried both digital and analog sources direct to amplification many many times over the years, and passive or no preamp route almost always yields weaker dynamics, period! Similar results, of lesser performance characteristics, typically follow when doing this from your video source - without outboard processor - in a multi-ch digital HT setup, as well.
Believe me, if I thought I could get superior overall sound without a preamp or AV pre for my uses, I of all people most DEFINITELY would!...and save a few bucks in the process. Just doesn't work out as well in my experience
I've tried both digital and analog sources direct to amplification many many times over the years, and passive or no preamp route almost always yields weaker dynamics, period! Similar results, of lesser performance characteristics, typically follow when doing this from your video source - without outboard processor - in a multi-ch digital HT setup, as well.
Believe me, if I thought I could get superior overall sound without a preamp or AV pre for my uses, I of all people most DEFINITELY would!...and save a few bucks in the process. Just doesn't work out as well in my experience