Thank you everyone. I suppose trying it out at the local dealer wouldn't hurt. CONNECT does have volume control, and it has an excellent mobile app, and I am uncertain if adding a preamp when I neither need source selection nor volume control will be of sufficient benefit.
That said, if it wastes the value MC452 brings, then I need to rethink.
That said, if it wastes the value MC452 brings, then I need to rethink.