Hey Mikey!
If it sounds good to you, don't mess with it!
I've used CD direct over the last 10 years with most of my system incarnations. For me, it is a good value decision. I don't spend funds on a pre-amp that is not necessary, I save the audio rack real estate required for the unnecessary component and I like the transparency of the CD direct sound.
However, I have also used a pre-amp and I can understand why many audio enthusiast would prefer to have one. It adds multi-input capabilities, adds gain (if needed) and typically gives the system more dynamic capabilities. For classical music or hard driving rock, I think a pre-amp may be more beneficial. For acoustic, jazz , singer/songwriter or other more intimate types of music, I feel it's very easy to live without a pre-amp (if one doesn't need multi input capabilities).
For me, it comes down to a value decision. I typically don't want to pay for a high quality pre-amp when I'm happy with the sound I get without one.
Enjoy,
TIC
If it sounds good to you, don't mess with it!
I've used CD direct over the last 10 years with most of my system incarnations. For me, it is a good value decision. I don't spend funds on a pre-amp that is not necessary, I save the audio rack real estate required for the unnecessary component and I like the transparency of the CD direct sound.
However, I have also used a pre-amp and I can understand why many audio enthusiast would prefer to have one. It adds multi-input capabilities, adds gain (if needed) and typically gives the system more dynamic capabilities. For classical music or hard driving rock, I think a pre-amp may be more beneficial. For acoustic, jazz , singer/songwriter or other more intimate types of music, I feel it's very easy to live without a pre-amp (if one doesn't need multi input capabilities).
For me, it comes down to a value decision. I typically don't want to pay for a high quality pre-amp when I'm happy with the sound I get without one.
Enjoy,
TIC