Will DAC always sound better going straight into a Power Amplifier?

This is being discussed on another thread, the most general common answer is NO, a pre-amp is still required for better SQ. Personal opinion every time iv tried to go direct from DAC to Amp it never sounds as good as a very good pre-amp in the chain.

However, if you are lacking a good pre---then its possibly better just to go direct.

@fai_v Hi, You can use the Musetec 005 without a pre-amp because it has a built in volume control which doesn't take much away. However a good pre-amp will give you a bigger, wider, deeper soundstage.

I prefer SS amps and pre-amps because they don't distort the sound but good SS is usually more expensive than valve equipment.

Usual suspects are Nelson Pass designs (Threshold, Pass etc.), Mark Levinson (but the power cable is underneath), Spectral (glorious but expensive), Conrad Johnson (SS and Valve).

I use SMC but they are hard to find.

Many more but these are among the best.

A normal modern DAC will output at min. 2v RCA or min.4v balanced. That is equal to a normal preamp output. Forgetting weird impedance mismatches for the moment, the only job left for the preamp is attenuation. If the DAC has a good relay based rather than lossy digital attenuator, there is nothing left for the preamp to do other than add distortion. If you do have an impedance mismatch, get a passive attenuator

@fai_v : Robert Grodinski Research RGR 4. A giant-killer preamp from the 80's that beat the then-current Levinson, Audio Research, Precision Fidelity ... preamps for sound quality! I have one in use right now. Bought it on an eBay auction for $199! It has a world-beater phono stage if you are into vinyl.

@fai_v 

If you buy a 30 year old preamp. Make sure you have it professionally reconditioned. Components like capacitors will need to be replaced, pots cleaned… of it isn’t likely to sound very good.