Do I even need a dedicated stereo preamp?

@musical404 I’ve got an Anthem MRX-1140 and have tried 5 different Preamps along with going direct from the DAC to Amp using LEDH digital volume control.  A Pre can make a very noticeable difference.  The Anthem will reprocesses any incoming signal as another member mentioned, the MRX series are all digital, your receiver is double processing the signal, not great for your 2 channel set up.  If it had an analogue pass through you’d be looking at a smaller improvement by adding a Pre.  

@mm1tt77, that is interesting to hear about the LEEDH volume control and preamps. I was just thinking how I could forgo the preamp and maybe use a Lumin streamer with its built-in volume control. I am in the same situation as the OP, wondering if I need a pre.

Enjoying this thread.

Absolutely, a preamp is one of the most important investments in your system besides the speakers. Not only for switching between sources but for shaping the sound to create a more involving and musical presentation. Make sure you put as much money here as you can afford. There are some dyed in-the-wool audiophiles that used to be purists that have come back to the idea of using one (a preamp) and never looked back.

@skinzy ,

I hope a 95k dac would have a pretty damn good analog stage with volume control if it included a volume control. Most all dacs in couple to 5k range can be greatly improved with a good preamp IMO. 

@musical404 ...For example, there are typically multiple variables (tucked away under different modules) that factor into gainstaging in a prepro, as compared to a simpleton purist preamp. You need to consider/address that when matching it up with a power amp.

Some guys just don't have the ability to understand/work with a complex device such as a prepro. If you fall in that category,  a simple purist preamp will do better. If you do understand how to work with a prepro, it is a powerful tool for achieving some unbelievable sound.

@soix  wrote

In a word, YES!!!  One of my biggest “Aha” moments in audio was in going from using my prepro to a dedicated stereo preamp that firmly disabused me of minimizing the importance of a good preamp, and since you’re using the preamp section of a $1900 AVR your upside potential is considerable.  If you share what sound characteristics are most important to you and/or what specific improvements you’d like to achieve you’ll get good recommendations here.  Also budget and if you’re looking for new or used.  Last, if you can hook up your source to both the Anthem and the stereo preamp you need not lose the ability to adjust volume with your phone for less-critical listening.