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Do I even need a dedicated stereo preamp?

Hi everybody, I'm new here. Been a lurker for a long time. 

My current system is dual purpose for music and HT. However over time, I have added dedicated pieces of equipment for the music side. The only standalone piece I do not have is a preamp. Here is my current setup. 

AVR: Anthem MRX 540

AMP: Buckeye Purifi 1ET6525SA 2 channel   

STREAMER: Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2

DAC: Holo Audio Cyan 2

So far I am incredibly happy with my setup. However, a part of me wonders if I would gain any sonic benefit from a dedicated preamp.  

I want to just full send it, but money is tight and I want to make sure I would truly have something to gain. That's why I am here asking all of you guys. If money wasn't an issue, I've been looking into Benchmark LA4 or the Holo Audio Serene. Another issue for me is I have gotten so used to using the Anthem phone app to adjust the volume say if I'm in my kitchen. I know I would lose that functionality.  

So from those more experienced than me, will I hear a noticeable difference between the preamp in the Anthem AVR vs a dedicated preamp? 

Thanks

musical404
vinylshadow
556 posts
 

@musical404   You do not need a preamp.

If you use a DAC that has an analogue volume control such as Playback Designs or Audio Analogue, you can run your gear straight to the DAC and out to your amps. 

Preamps are expensive boxes that actually subtract as they are another box in the music chain and necessitate more interconnect cables as well. 

I sold my Preamp awhile ago for this reason. 

Post removed 
maam522a
163 posts
 

@musical404 

I am not familiar with your AVR but assume it would have pre-outs that you could connect to your dedicated amp.  I have tried the variable analog out from my DMP A6 directly to my amp and the sound was ok.  I thought the purist approach would sound better.  When I placed my Aragon 24k pre back into the chain, the quality of the audio was improved substantially.

musical404 OP
18 posts
 

I am not familiar with your AVR but assume it would have pre-outs that you could connect to your dedicated amp.

It does have pre-outs and that's what I use with my Buckeye amp. From my research, anthem doesn't have a direct pure mode like Denon or Marantz. I am not adding anything like anthem correction, but supposedly it still does some sort of conversion before the analog inputs. I have noticed changes in the sound when I added my amp, followed by my DMP-A6, and even more when I added the Cyan 2 so perhaps the Anthem is fairly transparent. 

namrider1
31 posts
 

The A6 DAC will hold you back... great as streamer only, but not the DAC.  Find a used McIntosh D150 DAC/Preamp and you will see radical improvement for about $1,600.

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