Even when comparing the sound of a stock Sony SACD player I find the sound more involving and dynamic when run through an active preamp such as my Aesthetix.
A while back I had both the Shanling and Lindemann CD players. I experimented with direct out (both transistor and tube buffer) on the Shanling, only to prefer using its output into my pre.
With the Lindemann, I ran its output into my Aesthetix Callisto and a top notch passive unit, with everyone preferring the sound of the active. This same experiment was performed a couple of years ago with a Sony SCD1 and a Levinson two piece unit with similar results. In all cases the added dynamics, control and bandwidth of the active pre (Aesthetix and / or Audio Research Ref 2 Mk 2) were the preferred combo over driving the amps directly.
A while back I had both the Shanling and Lindemann CD players. I experimented with direct out (both transistor and tube buffer) on the Shanling, only to prefer using its output into my pre.
With the Lindemann, I ran its output into my Aesthetix Callisto and a top notch passive unit, with everyone preferring the sound of the active. This same experiment was performed a couple of years ago with a Sony SCD1 and a Levinson two piece unit with similar results. In all cases the added dynamics, control and bandwidth of the active pre (Aesthetix and / or Audio Research Ref 2 Mk 2) were the preferred combo over driving the amps directly.